Palmer eyes National Historic Landmark status

PALMER -- Palmer's historic district could be on its way to joining the ranks of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Library of Congress and Alcatraz Island.

A historian with the National Park Service last week presented Palmer city officials with a plan to earn the Matanuska Colony era buildings in downtown Palmer the designation of National Historic Landmarks. Historian Darrell Lewis warned that the nomination process often takes a year or more, but with the blessing of the Palmer City Council and local residents, Lewis said he could lead the city down that path.

"I don't want to impose this on you … this is your community," Lewis told the group, which included Palmer City Council members, Planning and Zoning Commissioners and representatives of the Palmer Historical Society.

City officials did not commit to anything at the meeting, but they had numerous questions for the federal historian about the pros and cons of becoming a National Historic Landmark.

"I guess I'm just a skeptic. Someone is here to offer us something for nothing …" Councilman Tony Pippel said.

But according to the federal historian, that is basically what the National Park Service is offering -- something for nothing.

The Palmer historic district is already on the National Historic Register, but by earning landmark status the community would become a part of a more exclusive club. According to the National Park Service, fewer than 2,500 historic places have this distinction. To be considered, a site must be of significance not just on a local level but to America's history as a whole.

"National Historic Landmarks are exceptional places," according to the National Park Service. "They form a common bond between all Americans."

In addition to being included on this select list, which Lewis pointed out is used by tourists and visitors, property owners also get access to grant money, tax credits and preservation assistance from the National Park Service, along with a shiny bronze plaque to hang on their building if they desire.

And there are no strings attached, according to Lewis. Public and private property owners can continue to manage their property as they choose, as long as there are no federal permits, funds or licenses involved.

"If you were an NHL [National Historic Landmark] tomorrow, you wouldn't know the difference," Lewis said.

But Councilwoman Kathrine Vanover said she knew of a community in the Lower 48 that had earned National Historic Landmark status and property owners there could now use only certain paint colors on their buildings.

In a political climate that Councilman Pippel described as "somewhat libertarian," such restrictions might not fly.

"If I owned a house in that district, I could change the roof any way I wanted?" Pippel asked the historian.

That, Lewis said, would depend on the local ordinances in place. Local governments can, of their own volition, develop planning and zoning policies aimed at preserving the landmark status. These can limit the types of buildings that can be constructed in the area and restrict the sorts of changes that can be made to the historic district.

"But it's the community that decides … not the feds," explained Mat-Su Borough Historian Fran Seager-Boss, who also attended the meeting.

Seager-Boss went on to say that such guidelines can become critical in protecting the landmark status of an area. She said development and changes to buildings can threaten the historic integrity of a site. She gave Talkeetna as an example of a community that may be endangering its historic feel with ongoing development.

Among other issues, the town is in the midst of a controversy over paint colors used on a local business that some in the community says aren't true to the town's historic roots, according to recent media accounts.

In hopes of avoiding such conflicts, Seager-Boss said at last week's meeting that she has brought a consultant to the borough to help develop a "zoning overlay" for Palmer's historic district. Because the city holds the power of planning and zoning, such a borough plan will be purely advisory, Seager-Boss said, but it could provide some useful guidelines for the city.

"It could be very basic -- like no changes to the facade of a building," Seager-Boss said. "That is something that would have to be decided in the community."

In the meantime, Lewis said he will wait to hear from the city as to whether or not it is interested in pursuing landmark status.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to take up the matter at an upcoming meeting, and will then make a recommendation to the city council.

With a thumb up from the city, Lewis said the next step would be to send out letters to affected property owners asking them if they are interested. If most are not, Lewis said he wouldn't pursue it any further. With a majority support, however, Lewis said he can then send a nomination on to the National Park System Advisory Board, which then makes a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior.

A public comment period is provided during this process.