Agenda - 01-04-1994-IX-E - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTr. CAROLINA DIVISION OF ARCHIVES AND H aRY STATE HISTORIC PRESERV A T ION OFFICE 9 NATIONAL REGISTER FACT SHEET I • WHAT IS THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES? The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts worthy of preservation for their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture. The National Register was established by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that as a matter of public policy, properties significant in national, state, and local history are considered in the planning of federal undertakings, and to encourage historic preservation initiatives by state and local governments and the private sector. What the National Register Means for the Private Property Owner i The listing of a property in the National Register places no obligation or restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter the property. Over the years, various federal incentives have been introduced to assist private preservation initiatives. A private owner of a National Register property her-mes obligated to follow federal preservation standards only if federal funding or licensing is used in work on the property, or if the owner seeks and receives a special benefit that derives from National Register designation, such as a grant or a tax credit described below. National Register listing should not be confused with local historic property and historic district designations. These designations are made by a local governing board on the recommendation of a local historic preservation commission. This program of local designations is an option available to local governments under North Carolina enabling legislation (G.S. 16OA4W). Properties and districts listed in the National Register sometimes also receive local designation in jurisdictions where local preservation commissions have been established according to the state enabling legislation, but there is no direct correlation between National Register listing and local designation. National Register listing means the following: 1. Consideration and Protection in Public Planning: All properties and districts listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register are considered in the planning of federal undertakings such as highway construction and Community Development Block Grant projects. "Federal undertakings" also include activities sponsored by state or local governments or private entities if they are licensed or partially funded by the federal government. "Federal undertakings" do not include loans made by banks insured by the FDIC or federal farm subsidies. National Register listing does not provide absolute protection from federal actions that may affect the property. It means that if a federal undertaking is in conflict with the preservation of a National Register property, the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office will negotiate with the responsible federal agency in an effort to eliminate or minimize the effect on the historic property. This review procedure applies to properties that are determined eligible for the National Register in the day-today environmental review process as well as those actually listed in the National Register. Similarly, North Carolina law (G.S. 121-12a) provides for consideration of National Register properties in undertakings funded or licensed by the state. Where a state undertaking is in conflict with the preservation of a National Register property, the North Carolina Historical Commission is given the opportunity to review the case and make recommendations to the state agency responsible for the undertaking. The commission's recommendations to the state agency are advisory. 2. Incentives for the Preservation of National Register Properties: Tax Benefits. Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, a privately owned building that is listed in the National Register or is a contributing building in a National Register historic district may be eligible for a 20% federal income investment tax credit claimed against the costs of a qualified rehabilitation of the building. These credits (see other side)