Dollar Impact of Designating a Local Historic District

Taking care of what we have makes economic sense when we consider the city's 2030 POND redevelopment plan which includes 10 re-development districts out of an overall total of 12 areas (Only two districts remain intact, the downtown main street and a neighborhood district.) Review these maps and information:

• Redevelopment District Map on City Website
• What is the POND 2030 Redevelopment plan?
• See Norcross Historic Resources Survey Map

What is the dollar impact of preserving at least our one unique, core historic district and placing its oversight under the Historic Preservation Commission's purview, a council-appointed, specially trained local citizen board? Impressive data is available to us for designating a local historic district, and 104 Georgia cities have followed this path to success. Studies exist now in nearly every state.

The Georgia Study tracks three cities of varying sizes: Tifton, Rome and Athens.

Tifton, Georgia is a railroad town similar in size to Norcross. Tifton used the National Trust's study model to assess the impact of their preservation efforts. Overall, the data supports the designation of historic areas as a means of maintaining economic viability. Interesting to note is construction data gathered from building and electrical permits used to determine activity levels in local designated historic areas as opposed to non-designated areas. The same data was used to calculate economic benefits to the community through jobs created and additional revenues to the local government. Impressive results show locally designated residential neighborhoods contributed:

• double the jobs and twice as many dollars to the local economy when compared to non-designated areas
• increased in property value 10% more than non-designated properties, and
• locally designated properties increased in property value almost 80% more that those only nationally designated

Another example in the study is in the city of Rome, Georgia. The city was in economic decline until it established local designated districts. The city's future turned around by designating new local districts:

• Between the Rivers local district, which dramatically outperformed East Rome Historic, which is only nationally designated, by 61.92%
• Oakdene Place neighborhood, also locally designated, experienced a healthy rise in property values of 36.91% in comparison to nationally designated South Broad Historic (4.54%) and Mt. Aventine (-4.36%)

Results in Athens, Georgia were equally impressive. Researchers explored relationships among local and National Register of Historic Places designated districts and non-designated historic areas. Approximately 600 properties sampled from 6 historic districts showed properties in designated districts increased at faster rate than those not designated over a 20 year period since 1976.

• Woodlawn and Boulevard, listed in both National Register of Historic Places and locally designated districts showed property values rose 47.75%.
• Two National Register districts, Milledge Creek and West Hancock incleased at about half the rate of the locally designated areas, 22.94% on average.

Of the groups compared, the combined locally designated areas exhibited the largest increase in value. The growth rate continued in post -assessment studies. Preservation benefits include increased business activity and more jobs. Another plus is less impact on the environment and less strain on infrastructure services.

Altogether, taking care of what we have by designating local districts, is an essential component when planning. Norcross has only national designation. Shouldn't Norcross be moving ahead with the local designating process to preserve the gift of its intact architectural heritage and history to ensure quality of life in neighborhoods and our economic future? Together, we can ensure our town has the best opportunity to survive economically and maintain its charm and character, as we know it.

• Access the Georgia Study - D&S 08: Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation in Georgia, A Study of Three Communties (PDF) - Available for small purchase fee from the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Access the Florida Study - See links at bottom of web page to both the longer Technical Report and The Executive Summary