Dear candidates,

Treasure Flagstaff, Northern Arizona Pioneers’ Historical Society and forum attendees look forward to seeing you at the  upcoming historic preservation forum on Thursday, 3 September (5:30 pm at LCM Canterbury Chapel, 319 S. San Francisco St.).

Included here are some resources to give you background on the topic.  We want to help you make the most of your time at the forum.

If you would be so kind, please reply to this message so we know you received it.  If we don’t hear from you we’ll do our best to get the information to you one way or another!

The link below provides the National Park Service’s (NPS) answer to the question, “What is historic preservation:”

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservation/what-is-historic-preservation.htm

Why provide the NPS answer?

“April 04, 2025

The National Park Service (NPS) serves a vital role in safeguarding the historic places that shape our national identity. From administering federal preservation grants and approving historic tax credit projects to stewarding nationally significant sites, the NPS helps ensure that our shared heritage remains visible, accessible, and protected for future generations.”  — savingplaces.org   The NPS is within the Department of the Interior and the Secretary of the Interior provides the standards and technical information used in historic preservation.

This link will take you to a list of the most common historic preservation terms and definitions: https://www.nps.gov/articles/sec-stds-pres-terminology.htm

“What is the National Register Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.   — https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/what-is-the-national-register.htm

A local historic district has requirements similar to a National Register in order to be recognized.  What is different is that the local zoning code includes legal requirements for these districts.

I have attached the cultural resource study for a Flagstaff “preservation with purpose” project.  A house in the North End National Register Historic District was moved to the Townsite Historic Residential District.  The house was incorporated into Flagstaff’s Townsite Community Land Trust and made permanently affordable for Flagstaff residents.  Cultural resource studies are part of the process of resource documentation and evaluation.

What the study could not include was that after the rehabilitation was complete the NPS approved the move to  within the boundaries of the Townsite Historic Residential District and the local Townsite Design Review Overlay District.  The house fits into the street context as though it was built there.  This relisting allowed the homeowner to apply for the Arizona owner-occupied historic property tax credit,  improving the affordability.

Also included is the link to an article about Winslow history.  Why am I sharing a story about Winslow?  After reading about the family I want to experience the places mentioned in the article!  While in Winslow I’ll explore the town more and probably have a refreshment or make a purchase.  Heritage tourism is an economic driver.

History is what every community has that no other community can claim.  History is embodied in buildings, the associated peoples’ stories, and gives places a depth that is irreplaceable.  Both residents and visitors value authentic places.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17CPpvM5CCjMARZvVtMH3XgcqU91tc2h5/view?ts=6a8ce078   The Winslow article starts on p. 30.

Thank you in advance for attending this unique forum with education and dialog about such an important community topic.

Sincerely,

Duffie Westheimer

Treasure Flagstaff Executive Director