McKinney HPAB unanimously approves multiple historic markers and tax-exemption applications

The City of McKinney Historic Preservation Advisory Board on a January 2026 agenda unanimously approved a slate of historic-marker designations and historic-neighborhood tax-exemption requests for properties across the city.

Raina, a city historic-preservation staff member, presented staff findings on each application and said staff had reviewed the owners’ documentation and found the projects met the program criteria. "Staff has reviewed the request by the homeowners and found that it does meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the H and I Z program," Raina told the board, noting the program’s investment thresholds and estimated city ad valorem revenue foregone of $314,469 attributable to the incentives under consideration.

What was approved: the board voted to approve: - HP2025-0068 — Wilcox House, 611 North Church Street: rehabilitation level 2 (50% city ad valorem exemption for 10 years). Staff reported $14,515 in qualifying work for custom storm windows. - HP2025-0070 — 1103 New Street (Paula Barnett): rehabilitation level 2 (50% exemption for 10 years); invoices showed $18,101 in repairs including roof/gutter and soffit/fascia work. - HP2025-0084 — 414 North Bradley Street (Stacy Mclee): rehabilitation level 2 (50% exemption for 10 years); staff confirmed siding repair and painting met the $10,000 minimum and indicated soffit/fascia repairs used wood materials. - HP2025-0098 — Edward Finney House, 504 North Church Street (Brian and Rebecca Johnson): preservation level 3 (30% exemption for 10 years); staff said an air-conditioning replacement met the $5,000 threshold required for level 3. - HP2025-0099 — Barnes Largent House, 618 West Louisiana Street (Kevin and Laurie Scott): marker designation previously approved; staff recommended and board approved level-1 rehabilitation incentive (100% city ad valorem exemption for 10 years). The board noted the property’s Texas Historic Commission plaque. - HP2025-0101 — Westmoreland House, 516 West Hunt Street (Robert and Shannon Brew): rehabilitation level 2 (50% exemption for 10 years); staff cited exterior paint work over $10,000 as qualifying investment. - HP2025-0106 — 611 West Virginia Street (Morgan Newman and Jason Manske): historic marker was approved and the subsequent level-1 tax-incentive application (100% exemption for 10 years) was also approved; staff flagged siding and foundation repairs, window sash restoration and other work that together exceeded the $10,000 marker-level threshold.

Board discussion and review process: board members asked staff about documentation, material choices and historic integrity during presentations. For the 414 North Bradley application a board member specifically asked whether an enclosed porch would require future board review; Raina said enclosure would come back to the board only if staff and the homeowner could not reach agreement on a design.

Homeowner remarks: homeowners who spoke about their restorations described extensive, hands-on work to retain historic character. One homeowner said the project "has been a really great process," noting careful sash restoration and repair rather than wholesale replacement.

Next steps and context: each approved exemption is tied to the program criteria staff described (minimum qualifying investments and periods for eligibility) and most exemptions approved carry a 10-year term. None of the approvals included substantive dissent; each vote recorded by the board was unanimous. The board closed the meeting at 6:13 p.m.

Votes at a glance (outcomes): all items listed above — HP2025-0068, HP2025-0070, HP2025-0084, HP2025-0098, HP2025-0099, HP2025-0101, HP2025-0106 — were approved unanimously by the board during this session.