Historic landmark preservation is a method for preserving and maintaining real estate properties, including monuments, homes, buildings and landscapes that are historically significant. In the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Congress set forth the reasons for preserving historical landmarks as part of an effort to preserve America’s rich heritage. However, in doing so, they wrote a lengthy and complex legal document with hundreds of provisions that is complicated for lawyers to decipher, let alone someone who just acquired a real estate property. Understanding the legalities surrounding the preservation of historic landmarks can be extremely complicated, requiring the services of lawyers, historians, public trusts and knowledgeable contractors who can help you navigate these legalities in a way that is respectful of the historical significance of your property and in compliance with all local, state and federal landmark statutes.
Begin By Visiting The National Trust For Historic Preservation Website
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that was created to preserve historically significant properties, buildings, monuments, and landscapes. On their website you will be able to find a wealth of informational resources that can help you establish the landmark status of your property and renovate and restore your property in a way that does not violate local, state and federal historical landmark preservation laws.
Contact A Local Or State Historian Or Librarian
Most people who own historically significant buildings are not planning on demolishing them anytime soon. In fact, most people who own historically significant properties are interested in the benefits of landmark status including public notoriety and historical landmark tax status. One of the best ways to establish the historical significance of your property is to contact the state or local historian’s office to get as much information about the property that is possible. When you are restoring historical landmarks, having original documents, paintings, drawings or photos on hand will certainly be helpful in establishing the original appearance of the building and surrounding landscaping and also for establishing the original intent of the property’s creators.
Contact Your State’s Historic Preservation Office
When you acquire a property in a major city, it is important to do diligent research to learn the historic landmark status of your property and how that affects your rights and responsibilities as the property’s owner. Each state has a Historic Preservation Office staffed with public officials who can provide you with the information you need about your property. Once you have determined the landmark status of your property, it is then up to you to hire the historic preservation consulting and contracting services necessary to ensure that your property is professionally restored and preserved in a way that is respectful to the historical significance of the property.
Hire a Historic Preservation Consulting and Contracting Service
One of the most pressing concerns when dealing with historical landmarks and properties with historical significance is restoring them in such a way that the properties themselves retain their original character. Excessive demolition involving the full scale replacement of major portions of the property is not preferred. An experienced historical preservation consultant, who knows historical preservation details, can help you preserve delicate historical structures through analysis of the existing building to identify deteriorated parts of the structure that need to be repaired or replaced. Therefore, it is imperative to hire a historic preservation consulting and contracting service with the knowledgeable professionals capable of doing everything possible to protect and maintain the original construction by applying architectural conservation principles like minimal intervention and non-destructive restoration techniques.
Restoring historically significant properties can be a challenging process, often times requiring the assistance of knowledgeable professionals during each phase of the preservation process. With the help of historians, librarians, historical trusts and a historical consulting and contracting service, you will be able to get more info to restore and maintain your property in a way that not only fulfills your legal obligation, but will help you get the property as close as possible to the original appearance and intent of its creators.
Author Bio: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer living in Boston, MA. When not writing, she enjoys reading and indoor rock climbing. Find her on Google +
