Palmer pursues historic landmark status

PALMER -- People who own Matanuska Colony buildings in Palmer's historic district should expect a letter from the federal government in their mailboxes soon, informing them that their property could be America's next National Historic Landmark.

At Tuesday's meeting the Palmer City Council followed the lead of the Planning and Zoning Commission and voted unanimously to ask the National Park Service to begin the process of applying for the landmark status for the town's historic district. Now it's up to local property owners and the National Park Service.

"It can be a real benefit, in addition to just recognizing the unique history of Palmer," City Manager Tom Healy told the council. "It gets people's attention."

Palmer's 1930s-era buildings are already on the National Historic Register, but by earning landmark status the community would join fewer than 2,500 historic places that have this distinction.

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

And there are no strings attached, according to the National Park Service. 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.

Earlier this month, a historian with the National Park Service presented Palmer city officials with a plan to earn the designation of National Historic Landmark. 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.

At the time, city officials had numerous questions, but apparently the historian gave the right answers.

"The commission particularly liked the fact that the landowners themselves would be the final decision makers," according to a city memo.

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 could 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.

Among the historic buildings that would be considered a part of the National Historic Landmark District are the Mat-Su Borough building, originally the Central School; the Colony Inn, originally a dormitory; the Palmer Depot, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978; the Matanuska Maid Co-Op warehouse; the water tower; the United Protestant Presbyterian Church and parsonage, also known as the Church of a Thousand Trees, which has been on the national register since 1980; several staff houses, which are now private residences and Alaska Railroad tracks that were set in 1935.

The entire historic landmark district would encompass nine blocks in the city center and would include buildings that had been constructed or significantly modified more recently, such as the Palmer Public Library, St. John Lutheran Church and St. Michael's Catholic Church.