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Staff: Southridge survey finds neighborhood largely intact, recommends National Register eligibility
Summary
City staff presented a Southridge historic-resources survey showing roughly 80% of houses as 'contributing' and identifying four properties potentially eligible for National Register nomination; staff said any formal nomination must be initiated by residents.
Sean Jacobson, the city assistant planner, told the Historic Landmark Commission that consultants documented 792 historic-age resources in the Southridge area and recommended the neighborhood as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places if residents choose to pursue it.
"We have 792 historic-age resources…80% of the houses are contributing," Jacobson said during the presentation, summarizing the consultant team's findings. He said the survey recorded 590 resource records, 554 buildings, six districts and one object and flagged four individual properties as potential National Register candidates.
Jacobson said the consultants recommended eligibility under National Register criteria A (broad patterns of history) and C (architecture) and emphasized that a National Register listing would not change private property rights. "National Register would be an option for pursuit," he said, "it doesn't affect their property rights, but it could be a source of protection if there was ever an effort to expand 35E in that direction because federal review would consider the designation."
Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives to a formal local historic district, noting neighborhood skepticism about potential restrictions and cost impacts. Staff described conservation-district approaches and suggested smaller pilot areas where residents are strongly supportive. Commissioners urged staff to prepare plain-language outreach materials and frequently asked questions to help neighbors understand options, incentives and the process needed to pursue local or national recognition.
Jacobson outlined next steps: the final report and recommendation map will be posted online once finalized, and staff will help residents who elect to pursue nominations. He reiterated that the decision to initiate a nomination rests with property owners and neighborhoods: "If the residents choose to act, then we are happy to help them, but if they don't, we will not."
