Preserving Arlington: Past Visions, Future Realities
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PRESERVING ARLINGTON: PAST VISIONS, FUTURE REALITIES A Preservation Plan for the City of Arlington January 2010 About the cover: The background photo is of the Arlington Interurban (North Texas Traction Co.) that connected Arlington to Fort Worth and Dallas from 1902 to 1938. Inset photos are, from left to right, top row: lion sculpture on obelisk at Main and Division streets (photo by Chad M. Davis), Caravan Motel sign near Division and Collins streets; second row, typical mid-century “rambling” ranch style house in Arlington; third row, Eastern Star Home on E. Division Street, first base entrance at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, aerial view of UT Arlington campus, ca. 1970. PRESERVING ARLINGTON: Past Visions, Future Realities A Preservation Plan for the City of Arlington January 2010 Prepared by the Arlington Landmark Preservation Commission ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2010 ARLINGTON CITY COUNCIL Dr. Robert N. Cluck, Mayor Council Member Mel LeBlanc, District 1 Council Member Sheri Capehart, District 2 Council Member Robert Rivera, District 3 Council Member Kathryn Wilemon, District 4 Council Member Lana Wolff, Mayor Pro Tempore, District 5 Council Member Robert Shepard, District 6, At Large Council Member Jimmy Bennett, District 7, At Large Council Member Gene Patrick, Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore, District 8 2010 ARLINGTON LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Cheryl Taylor-West, 1st Vice Chair Larry Munsie, Jr., 2nd Vice Chair Nita Price Alvin Warren Ron R. Reber Sharon Holman Ghada Mahasneh PRESERVATION PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE Kristina Rumans, Chair Suzanne C. Sweek, Editor Deborah Bell-Flowers Nancy L. Bennett Nelson Hodges Martha May Martin Larry Munsie, Jr. Nita Price Dorothy Rencurrel Ginny Whitaker (1947-2009) CITY OF ARLINGTON STAFF James F. Parajon, Director Michelle Hardin, Assistant Director Sheryl Kenny, Grants Manager Julie Hostak, Historic Preservation Officer Dell Smith, Grants Secretary PRESERVATION PLANNING CONSULTANT W. Dwayne Jones, AICP Executive Director Galveston Historical Foundation PHOTO CREDITS Arlington Historical Society UTA Library Special Collections Landmark Preservation Commission Files Final Arlington Historic Resources Survey Chad M. Davis Library of Congress American Memory WORD PROCESSOR Sharon West The City of Arlington Historic Preservation Plan was funded in part through grants from the Certified Local Government Program of the Texas Historical Commission in coordination with the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FORWARD ................................................................................................................... i INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE ..................................................................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................... vii SECTION 1 -- PRESERVATION CONTEXT The City’s Historic Character ............................................................................................... 1.1 • Arlington History and Development ................................................................................ 1.1 • Arlington’s Historic Resources ....................................................................................... 1.26 • Defining What is Historic ............................................................................................... 1.32 The Value of Historic Preservation to the Community ....................................................... 1..33 • Cultural ........................................................................................................................... 1.33 • Economic ........................................................................................................................ 1.34 • Heritage Tourism ........................................................................................................... 1.35 Past and Current Preservation Efforts ................................................................................ 1.36 • Summary of Past Preservation Efforts ........................................................................... 1.36 • Historic Resources Surveys ............................................................................................ 1.38 • Programs of Arlington Historical Organizations ............................................................ 1.39 Policy Context of Preservation ........................................................................................... 1.41 • Legal Basis for Historic Preservation .............................................................................. 1.41 • Zoning and Land Use Planning ....................................................................................... 1.42 Arlington Architecture ....................................................................................................... 1.44 SECTION 2 – ANALYSIS OF CURRENT TOOLS AND CONDITIONS Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2.1 Current Historic Resources Survey .................................................................................... …2.1 • Methodology .................................................................................................................... 2.1 • Findings and Recommendations ...................................................................................... 2.3 • Limitations........................................................................................................................ 2.4 • Accessibility ...................................................................................................................... 2.4 Arlington Historic Preservation Ordinances ......................................................................... 2.4 • Landmark Preservation (“LP”) Overlay Zoning ................................................................ 2.5 • Conservation District (“CD”) Overlay Designation ........................................................... 2.5 • Neighborhood Plans ......................................................................................................... 2.5 Historic Preservation Incentives .......................................................................................... 2.6 • City Resources .................................................................................................................. 2.6 • State Resources ................................................................................................................ 2.9 • Federal Resources ............................................................................................................ 2.9 Other Relevant Policies...................................................................................................... 2.11 • Public Sector Role -- Local, County, State, and Federal ................................................. 2.11 SECTION 3 – GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: A VIEW TO THE FUTURE Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3.1 Town Hall Meetings and Informal Surveys .......................................................................... 3.1 Arlington 2025 Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................... 3.5 Goals, Objectives, & Action ................................................................................................. 3.6 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 3.11 APPENDICES A. Historic Preservation Organizations and Agencies .......................................................... A.1 B. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation ................................................. B.1 C. Historical Markers and Overlays in Arlington • National Register of Historic Places ........................................................................... C.1 • Texas Historical Commission Markers ....................................................................... C.1 • Arlington Landmarks .................................................................................................. C.5 • Landmark Preservation Overlays ............................................................................... C.6 • Pioneer Trail Markers ................................................................................................. C.7 • D.A.R. Marker ............................................................................................................. C.7 D. Neighborhood Action Plans • Oak Hill ....................................................................................................................... D.1 • South Davis Neighbors ............................................................................................... D.2 • Historic North Central Community ............................................................................ D.2 E. Post-World War II Architecture • Architectural Stylistic Influences and Materials .........................................................E.1 • Seven General Characteristics of Modern Residences ...............................................E.1 • Significant Exterior Features .......................................................................................E.3 • Significant Interior Features .......................................................................................E.3