National Register of Historic Places
What is the National Register of 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. We like to refer to it as an “honor roll” of historic buildings and places. Almost all houses in Wedgwood are 50 years or older, which makes them eligible for historic status.
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON OWNERS OF A PROPERTY LISTED IN THE NRHP! Further, the nomination must be voted on by property owners. Under Federal Law, the listing of a property in the National Register places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction, unless the property is involved in a project that receives federal assistance, usually funding or licensing/permitting.
Please see the video of our lecture on this topic here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=952931112278941&ref=sharing
Benefits of Inclusion in NRHP as Historic District
Higher property values, stability for the neighborhood, community pride, availability of federal funds for certain improvements, and protection against federal projects. An individual property in a district must be deemed Contributing to the district in order to receive such incentives and protections. A Non-Contributing property is one that has been significantly altered or is not associated with the historic theme or time period of the district
Proposed District Boundaries
See maps below. The boundaries closely reflect those of a 1955 plat map and take into consideration what was actually built versus the plan. For this initial nomination, we have not included homes: in Wedgwood Square south of Wedgworth Road South, in Wedgwood East that list South Hills on their deeds, in the area west of Hulen Street, or in Wedgwood South. These areas can be added to the district at a later date or become separate historic districts.
Survey and Nomination Process
The proposed district has already been granted a Determination of Eligibility (for inclusion in the NRHP) in Criterion A for Community Planning and Development and in Criterion C for Architecture, at the local level. Working with HHM & Associates, WHA will survey all of the structures in the proposed district, write a detailed history and justification for the nomination, then submit all of that to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). THC will forward the nomination to the National Park Service for their approval. As part of the survey, each structure will be photographed, described and deemed Contributing or Noncontributing to the Historic District. WHA has already surveyed 1000+ houses, out of 2200+. Survey data and photographs will be incorporated into publicly-accessible databases and GIS maps.
MAPS
These boundaries are based upon an initial plat map of Wedgwood
All of what is now referred to as being in Wedgwood, with rough phases of build dates.
Dotted red line divides Wedgwood deeds from South Hills deeds.
