PIERCE COUNTY HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY PROJECT 2009-2010
Pierce County and the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission launched the Comprehensive Survey and Inventory of Historic Properties in Unincorporated Pierce County and Cities in Pierce County without Historic Preservation programs.
Pierce County Council appropriated funds in 2009 from the $1 Recording Surcharge (RCW 36.22.170 (1)(a)) to conduct Pierce County Historic Property Survey. Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission selected Artifacts Consulting, Inc. of Tacoma, Washington to undertake the comprehensive survey and inventory of historic properties in Pierce County.
The foremost goal of the survey and inventory effort is to significantly build the County's documentation and understanding of historic places by fostering partnerships with the citizens, communities and cities of greater unincorporated Pierce County. Additionally, Pierce County and the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission hope to raise awareness of cultural heritage in Pierce County and highlight the financial incentives associated with preservation efforts.
Spearheading this project, Artifacts in-house team will collaborate with local archaeology, graphic design, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and editing specialists. Artifacts' scope of work will include: selectively updating previous survey efforts, identifying and surveying additional resources throughout Pierce County and developing a comprehensive, illustrated context statement, available for public use that chronicles land use history in Pierce County. An extensive GIS component is employed within the project to develop a predictive model and provide a public tool, allowing property research and histories to be more accessible to interested home and property owners.
Also highlighted in the survey and inventory effort is an extensive public outreach component though the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission and Pierce County Library system. The intent of the outreach is to provide opportunity for self-nomination by property owners for inclusion in the survey process; create an email distribution network to provide project updates and news releases, encouraging an arena for public input and attendance at Pierce County Landmarks Commission meetings.
Three public meetings are to be held at end of the project to present findings in spring of 2010, locations in Pierce County to be announced. All final products will be available online through the Pierce County Public Library system.
Contacts:
Sean Gaffney, Long Range Planning Supervisor, Pierce County Planning and Land Services Department, (253) 798-2724 sgaffne@co.pierce.wa.us
Christy Johnson, Project Coordinator, Artifacts Consulting , Inc., (253) 572-4599 x100 cjohnson@artifacts-inc.com
PIERCE COUNTY HISTORICAL DOCUMENT SURVEY PROJECT 2009-2010
Pierce County and the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission launched the Comprehensive Historical Document Survey project to be conducted on a countywide basis.
Pierce County Council appropriated funds in 2009 from the $1 Recording Surcharge (RCW 36.22.170 (1)(a)) for the project to locate and catalog significant historic documents and records relevant to Pierce County history. The project will also gather that information into a centralized database which is anticipated to be made available online to the public via the Pierce County Library System beginning in summer of 2010. It is anticipated that this catalogue will be used by historians, educators, researchers, and the general public for historical research, public information, and enjoyment of Pierce County history. Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission selected Historical Research Associates, Inc. (HRA) to conduct the historical document survey and complete the database. HRA assembled a team of historians, database specialists, and other technical staff to conduct this survey and prepare the database. During and at the conclusion of the project, public meetings and workshops will be held by the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission to encourage public input and attendance.
Historical documents and records sought for cataloguing include a variety of public, private, governmental, and institutional records in a variety of media. These can include but not limited to: photographs; commercial, public, government and institutional records; maps, surveys and plats; birth and death records; scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, notebooks, diaries, correspondence, family reminiscences, oral history, recordings; architectural drawings; and more. The project organizers are especially interested in documents and records kept in private and institutional repositories. If you have historic documents/records you would like to see included in the Pierce County Historic Document Survey catalogue, please complete the Repository and Collection Information Form to Sean Gaffney, Long Range Planning Supervisor, Pierce County Planning and Land Services Department, (253) 798-2724 sgaffne@co.pierce.wa.us.
Contacts:
Sean Gaffney, Long Range Planning Supervisor, Pierce County Planning and Land Services Department, (253) 798-2724 sgaffne@co.pierce.wa.us
Heather Lee Miller, Ph.D., Associate Historian, HRA, (206) 343-0226 or hmiller@hrassoc.com
Introduction
In 1984, the Pierce County Council created a nine member board, the Landmarks Commission, and established a historic preservation program in Pierce County. The Landmarks Commission has been renamed the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission and its membership expanded to eleven members in 2008. The Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission's primary responsibility is to carry out the County's Historic Preservation Program as a Certified Local Government in Historic Preservation and to provide recommendations on matters related to Pierce County heritage in its capacity as an advisory body to the County Executive and Council.
The Pierce County Register of Historic Places is one of the important tools utilized by Pierce County to provide public recognition and measures of protection for historically significant properties in Pierce County. Properties are designated to Pierce County Register of Historic Places through nomination processes which include evaluation and determination of their eligibility for listing by the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission and further review and final adoption by the County Council. See Pierce County Register of Historic Places.
There are other similar historic registers at the federal and state levels; the National Register of Historic Places and Washington Heritage Register are examples. These are administered by the respective federal and state level agencies.
Why would an owner want to designate a property to a historic register?
- The pride and satisfaction from preserving historic resources important to Pierce County heritage.
- Technical assistance from the Pierce County Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission's eleven member board.
- Eligibility for tax incentives at the federal or local levels for rehabilitation of designated property achieved according to applicable historic preservation rehabilitation standards.
- Contribution to preserving 'sense of place' in our communities by protecting historically significant landmarks and resources.
What kind of tax incentives can a property owner expect?
Federal Level:
If a commercial or income producing property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, certain federal tax incentives may apply. Contact the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and/or the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for the most current tax incentives.
Pierce County Level:
Property tax incentives are available under Special Tax Valuation for historic rehabilitation:
- A special valuation of historic properties listed in the National, State, or Pierce County Register of Historic Places revises the assessed value of historic properties by subtracting eligible rehabilitation costs for the tax assessment. Applicant must apply for Special Tax Valuation through the County Assessor-Treasurer's Office within two years from the time the rehabilitation activities began. If approved, special valuation status remains in effect for ten years.
Properties with qualifying open space resources are assessed on the current use basis:
- The Washington State Open Space Tax Act (RCW Chapter 84.34) allows property owners with qualifying open space resources to apply to have their properties assessed on the current use basis. Although not a high priority resource for current use tax consideration, historic sites are among the open space resources included in the Public Benefit Rating System applied by Pierce County (PCC Chapter 2.114) to rate open space resources for this program.
What is the process to nominate a property for designation to the Pierce County Register of Historic Places?
A nomination application can be filed with the Planning and Land Services Department. It is customary for property owners to file such a nomination for their own property. If it is not an owner filing an application, owner permission and cooperation must be provided in order to nominate a property for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places. The Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission reviews and determines whether a nominated property is eligible for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places. Once determination is made, the Commission's evaluation and determination is forwarded to the County Council for final action.
What makes a property eligible for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places?
The criteria used to determine eligibility of a property for listing in the Pierce County Register of Historic Places are similar to those used to determine eligibility for listing in the historic registers at the federal or state levels. A property must be at least fifty years of age, although exceptions may be allowed for special resources, and possess the quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, culture, and have integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The property must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
- It is associated with the lives of persons significant in Pierce County's past; or
- It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represents the distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
- It has yielded or may be likely to yield information important in pre-history or history.
How do I find out about the nomination and designation processes?
You may contact Sean Gaffney, Long Range Planning Supervisor, Pierce County Planning and Land Services Department, (253) 798-2724, sgaffne@co.pierce.wa.us for information and application guidelines and form.
Need more information?
Historic Preservation Program
Pierce County Planning and Land Services Department
Advance Planning Division
2401 South 35th Street, Room 228
Tacoma, WA 98409-7490
(253) 798-3736
sgaffne@co.pierce.wa.us
Local Tax Incentive Program
Pierce County Assessor's Office
2401 South 35th Street, Room 142
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 798-9555
State and Federal Programs
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
1063 South Capitol Way, Suite 106
P.O. Box 48343
Olympia, WA 98501-8343
(360) 586-3065
Technical Assistance and Preservation Information
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 673-4141 or (415) 956-0610
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
1204 Minor Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 624-9449
Preservation Links:
Washington State Historical Society
Internet Resources for Heritage Conservation Historic Preservation and Archeology
Washington State Resources and Agencies
