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Sustaining Our Legacy <br />fhe Future of Ramsey Town Hall <br />PRESERVATION'S <br />FUTURE <br />FUTURE CITY PRESERVATION POLICIES: Local Outreach <br />Development in Ramsey has primarily taken place since the 1960s. Therefore, many <br />buildings, structures, and landscapes in the city will soon reach potential "historic" status as <br />defined by the National Park Service (NPS). We present steps and recommendations for the <br />City to make informed and responsible decisions about their historic resources. We begin <br />by identifying the ever -changing definition of "historic." <br />WHAT IS HISTORIC? <br />_ -T�r. Ill rrGG ff J II A <br />��III 1�i11� �•r�� <br />- •_y'' WNSN <br />1 '�x= L,w •• • • w <br />• <br />• <br />• <br />♦ ■ ■ ♦ - -NASA@ OR• <br />• <br />1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 0 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 <br />,potentially "HISTORIC" <br />Many people associate "historic" buildings and places with long -ago times, perhaps the nineteenth century or earlier. In reality, though, the threshold <br />is only fifty years. Although the Ramsey Schoolhouse is clearly an historic building, within ten years, structures from Ramsey's first wave of <br />development will be historic as well. As Ramsey ages, more and more of the structures from the city's early suburban development will potentially <br />become historic, and it will become important to think about preserving structures from the more recent past. Using Ramsey's oldest buildings as a <br />guide, we propose the following first steps. <br />HISTORIC PRESERVATION 101: <br />NATIONALTHE Establishing a City Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) <br />I [[IS KNIER ry What is the NRHP? <br />RAMEN PLACE]) O% TRE The National Register is , STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 <br />database of over 80,000 Survey of Existing Establish Engage with <br />NATIONAL RFGI9TER properties Resources Guidelines Community <br />OF HISTORIC PLACES regional, and local Identify buildings, landscapes, districts, etc. Prepare design guidelines for Creating resources that connect <br />that may qualify for NRHP according to the nationally and locally designated residents to the area's history is <br />historical NPS. Those that are deemed worthy can historic structures. These will vital in creating a sense of place. <br />Nomination is us• apply for placement on the NRHP. help the city of Ramsey monitor The City HPC could advocate for <br />done • • • • — Local historic designation may be useful for and provide a standard for participation in a Historical <br />any building improvements or Society, which may be better <br />Historic• • Office.• those that do not qualify for significance alterations, including demolition. equipped to host community <br />• • application • submitted by _ nationally. events. <br />Examples of Local HPCs <br />Anoka Heritage Preservation <br />Commission <br />ONumber of 7 people on commission <br />people <br />Q on HPC <br />Number of Once a month <br />meetings <br />Mankato Historic Preservation ■ <br />Commission <br />7 people on commission, including a Blue Earth <br />County Historical Society officer, and a staff liaison <br />from the Mankato Planning Department (not an <br />official member) <br />Once a month ■ <br />Guidelinesl Set of design guidelines for their historic district that Neighborhood design guidelines created the <br />Il�r II design serves as reference materials. The guidelines also Urban Planning department at a local college. <br />manual establish general standards for preservation and Design manuals are created for different <br />rehabilitation projects. designated historic districts in the city. <br />How much Any change to City register items comes to the Proposals for changes to City -designated structures <br />control do committee for recommendation. The committee or structures within the historic districts come to the <br />e they have? makes its recommendation to the City Council, commission for review, even if the building is not <br />which has the final say. historic. The committee makes its recommendation <br />to the City Council, which has the final say. <br />A citywide framework for preservation is an investment in preventing deterioration of the <br />>>>community's architecture. This approach also preserves Ramsey's aesthetic and cultural <br />heritage, while enhancing the community's vitality and encouraging economic growth for the <br />future. As a case in point, the lack of such a framework has contributed to the deterioration of <br />the schoolhouse and the degradation of its site. How bad is it? Let's take a look. <br />CIty 0 <br />RAMSEY <br />