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City staff say downtown is 'potentially eligible' for historic-district listing; CLG grant applied to fund survey and outreach
Summary
City staff told commissioners that the state has labeled downtown 'potentially eligible' for historic-district listing and the city applied for a Certified Local Government (CLG) matching grant (about $11,000 requested) to update the historic resources inventory and fund outreach; staff said designation would require community buy-in and could open federal grants and tax incentives while adding review requirements for property changes.
City staff reported that the state has provisionally found the downtown area "potentially eligible" for listing as a historic district and that the city has applied for a Certified Local Government (CLG) matching grant to update its historic-resources inventory and begin community outreach. Staff said the CLG program allows up to $16,000 per grant and the city requested about $11,000; volunteer and staff time will count toward the match and the expected cash cost to the city is roughly $3,000.
"It's called Section 106," the staff member said, describing the federal review triggered when state or federal transportation projects affect historic properties. The staff member said the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has prepared an 82-page Determination of Eligibility study for the downtown that identifies candidate properties and outlines mitigation options where ODOT work impacts historic features.
Why it matters: designation could make properties and the downtown eligible for federal grant programs and tax incentives, but it can also create additional review steps for property owners. "I'm very supportive of a historic district, but I want to do it in a way that makes sense to Newberg," one commissioner said, stressing the need to avoid strict rules that would burden homeowners.
Staff said the grant request is for a reconnaissance-level survey to identify properties that may need deeper research and that the city will not pursue formal designation without community buy-in. The staff member said the state document identifies 29 buildings within the proposed district boundary and that some individually eligible properties outside the boundary (including Saint Peter's Church on Main Street and several mill and park sites) are also being researched.
Staff described practical details and limits: the CLG grant cannot fund interpretive signage, and ODOT has a procedure for removed sidewalk markers in affected areas — crews will replicate the marker and give the city a representative piece for public-works custody. Staff added that ODOT crews have so far preserved many downtown sidewalk markers and that the agency will coordinate mitigation under Section 106 when relocation is unavoidable.
Commissioners discussed outreach strategies, including door-to-door visits, brochures explaining pros and cons, and an awards program to recognize renovated properties as an incentive for owners to participate. Staff said the CLG application was submitted last week and that notification on the grant outcome would arrive in April; the next steps will focus on owner outreach and clarifying code changes before any formal nomination is pursued.
The commission closed the discussion by agreeing to follow up on inventory assignments and outreach roles; staff asked commissioners to review assigned sections of the inventory and to prepare for broader community conversations. The commission set its next meeting for May 19 at 6 p.m., when members expect to continue planning around the inventory and the eligibility study.
