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Historic properties have a way of disappearing. They quietly fall prey to demolition, neglect, or
renovations that alter them beyond recognition. Building by building, site by site, the evidence
of a community’s heritage can gradually be lost through private and public action and inaction,
taking with it much of the community’s character, individuality, and vitality.
Like any limited resource, historic properties need careful planning and management to ensure their
survival for current and future generations. They are subject to the complex pressures and issues
of modern society, and often their preservation appears to be at odds with the immediate needs for
affordable housing, economic revitalization, employment, education, and so on.
Remarkably, though, the preservation of our heritage is not a mere luxury. It actually helps
combat the very problems that plague our communities by stabilizing neighborhoods, providing
affordable housing, lowering crime, stimulating private investment, bringing people and businesses
back downtown, attracting tourists, and strengthening community pride.
There are numerous ways a community can work to preserve its historic properties. A few include: a
historic preservation ordinance or resolution, zoning, demolition moratoria, downtown
revitalization programs, local economic incentives, promoting the federal rehabilitation tax
credit (especially in combination with the low-income housing tax credit), and public education
programs. The best approach is to use a combination of tools, especially chosen and integrated to
suit local needs.
Again, this means planning.
What is a Historic Preservation Plan?
A historic preservation plan is a statement of the community’s goals for its historic properties
and the actions it will take to reach those goals. It is most effective when it is a component of
a community’s master plan and is coordinated with other policies for housing, economic development,
transportation, et cetera. Communities that do not have a master plan, or that will not be
revising it soon, can create a separate historic preservation plan to serve in the interim.
The plan at its best, however, is more than a written document. It should be a continuous process
that brings together citizens and interest groups and helps them identify where their diverse
goals complement historic preservation and how they can work together to preserve their local
heritage.
Historic Preservation Planning Should Include These Factors:
- The history and historic properties of the community. In order to plan for historic properties, a
community must identify them first. A thorough and up-to-date survey of historic properties is
critical. Keep in mind that your community’s history is found not only in architectural
centerpieces, but in middle and working class neighborhoods, modest commercial rows, industrial
structures, farm buildings, bridges, landscapes, and in the often-hidden archaeological value of
unassuming structures and vacant land.
- A map and address list should be developed of known historic properties from surveys, local
historic districts and landmarks, and the National Register of Historic Places.
- Rehabilitation Tax Credit computerized log: This log lists all the development projects in Ohio
which successfully used the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit. It contains property names,
addresses, developers, owners, project costs, and the use of the property before and after
rehabilitation—all of which can be searched by county, region, or the entire state and used for
marketing local historic properties.
- Agriculture Chronology and Bibliography: This is the first in a series of references the Ohio
Historic Preservation Office is beginning to develop about broad themes in Ohio’s history. The
chronology lists pertinent events, people, legislation, technologies, and other factors that
contributed to Ohio’s agricultural development; the annotated bibliography provides sources for
further research. They are meant to assist local governments, state agencies, Ohio Historic
Preservation Office staff, and others in evaluating the historic significance of properties.
- Ohio’s Historic Preservation Plan: The Ohio Historic Preservation Office has created a state
historic preservation plan titled A Future for Ohio's Past: The Ohio Historic Preservation Plan,
to help set a direction for historic preservation efforts throughout the state and to bring
attention to the most urgent needs.
Click here to view the complete plan in Adobe .pdf format (853kb) or view by individual chapter.
What Can I Do?
Work with your local government to plan carefully for the future of the places which are evidence
of your community’s heritage. If you have a historic preservation plan, make sure it is up-to-date
and is being implemented.
Establish local historic preservation legislation. Protect your historic resources through an
ordinance or resolution, or make sure the existing legislation is adequate and that the properties
that need protection have indeed been designated as historic.
Examine local zoning. Make sure the zoning for historic areas encourages their survival, rather
than their replacement with parking lots or commercial strips.
Document your community’s historic properties. Work with your local historical society,
preservation organization, or other citizen groups to conduct surveys or develop National
Register nominations.
Encourage your local government to participate in the Certified Local Government (CLG) program. As
a Certified Local Government, your community will be eligible to apply for federal matching grant
funds for planning and other preservation activities.
Participate in and implementing Ohio’s Historic Preservation Plan. Ohioans can support historic
preservation by putting the plan to use in their communities, organizations, and agencies.
Click here to view A Future for Ohio's Past: The Ohio Historic Preservation Plan.
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