Tyler, Texas Strategic Historic Preservation Plan
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Tyler, Texas Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Fourth Draft May 4, 2017 Photo: Smith County Historical Society Tyler, Texas Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Acknowledgments This document was developed with the input and advice from dozens of smart, thoughtful, and committed people. A special thanks to all those who contributed. Steering Committee: Historic Preservation Board: Tyler City Council: Beverly Abell Vicki Betts Mayor Martin Heines Andy Bergfeld John Breedlove, Chair Darryl Bowdre Garnett Brookshire Brad Emge Ed Moore Michael Carmichael Ginger Haberle John Nix Daye Collins Laura Jackson Linda Sellers Ginger Haberle Lucinda Kittrell Don Warren Martin Heines Chris Leahy Mark Whatley Cheri Jones Dewayne Manning Carol Kehl Aubrey Sharpe Lucinda Kittrell JB Smith Ellen Musselman Shana Steele Prepared by: Danny Noteware Jack Pollard Tyler City Staff: Shari Rickman City Manager Ed Broussard Linda Sellers Courtney Burton Susan Travis Michael Howell Don Warren Heather Nick, AICP Amber Rojas This project was funded in part through a Certified Local Government Grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, as administered by the Texas Historical Commission. The contents and opinions, however, do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior. This program receives Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Contents Section 1: Executive Summary 1 Section 2: Introduction 9 Section 3: Strategic Historic Preservation Plan 21 Section 4: Implementation 53 Section 5: Tyler Historic Resources 71 Section 6: City Planning and Program Administration 127 Section 7: The Community Speaks 149 Appendices 159 Photos: HistoricTexas and The Lakota Group Section 1 >> Executive Summary Executive Summary This Strategic Historic Preservation Plan represents the results of a collaborative process between the City of Tyler, its Historical Preservation Board, the Strategic Historic Preservation Plan Steering Committee, Historic Tyler, Inc., the Smith County Historical Society and Tyler preservation advocates and residents to create a long-term vision and set of strategic actions for historic preservation in the City of Tyler. Significant strides have been made over the last 30 years in identifying and documenting important historic resources, designating Historic Districts and Local Landmarks, and in promoting the revitalization and enhancement of Tyler’s historic Downtown commercial district and surrounding neighborhoods. Tyler’s historic preservation vision seeks to build on these successes as well as strengthen the community preservation program through effective public-private partnerships and the implementation of policies and initiatives that support and encourage preservation activities. TYLER HISTORIC PRESERVATION VISION Provide support and strategies to preserve and honor Tyler’s historic buildings and resources. HISTORIC PRESERVATION MISSION To strengthen the local economy, stabilize and improve property values in and around historic areas, foster civic beauty, and promote the appreciation of Tyler’s historic buildings and resources for the education and welfare of the Tyler citizens. Significant strides have been made over the last 30 years in identifying and documenting important historic resources, designating Historic Districts and Local Landmarks, and in promoting the revitalization and enhancement of Tyler’s historic Downtown commercial district and surrounding neighborhoods. Photo: Historic Tyler Inc. THE LAKOTA GROUP 1 PLAN APPROACH A comprehensive approach to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Tyler’s historic preservation program and in considering solutions and strategies for short and long-term actions was utilized by the City for this planning process. Current preservation planning activities and the operations of Tyler’s Historical Preservation Board (HPB) and other City departments were examined along with how preservation policies were integrated within the City’s planning and economic development initiatives. Preservation-related activities of other organizations, including Historic Tyler Inc., and the Smith County Historical Society were also reviewed. Identifying opportunities for strengthening existing partnerships between the City and private-sector organizations was a particular focus of this preservation planning process. In terms of public engagement, the City of Tyler conducted a series of interview and focus group sessions with key stakeholder groups and two community workshops to gauge community attitudes and opinions regarding preservation issues and potential planning strategies. A Steering Committee was also appointed by the City to help guide the Plan’s development and provide critical feedback on potential planning goals and initiatives. A broad range of viewpoints and stakeholder interests were represented on the Committee, which provided useful insights and perspectives on significant preservation issues and concerns. Preservation goals, policies and initiatives presented in this Strategic Historic Preservation Plan represent a community perspective — in that the responsibility to implement and manage an effective community preservation program must rely on both public and private sector participation. RELATIONSHIP TO THE TYLER 1ST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN This Strategic Historic Preservation Plan is a supplemental policy document to Chapter 6: Historic Preservation of the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan, and seeks to advance the Tyler 1st Vision Statement where “…the precious legacy bestowed by previous generations — natural beauty, Tyler’s Rose Garden, its tree-lined brick streets, its historic districts, and a rich business environment…,” is a key community aspiration. Goal statements, recommendations and implementation actions made within this document also align and reaffirm the Tyler 1st Vision Statement and Historic Preservation Goals as stated in Chapter 6. In other cases, Strategic Historic Preservation Plan initiatives are meant to address issues not specifically addressed in the Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan. KEY PLAN GOALS AND INITIATIVES Presented below are Strategic Historic Preservation Plan goals and initiatives, organized around four key elements of an effective community historic preservation program — survey, documentation and registration; program administration and management; community development; and, education and advocacy. Survey Documentation and Registration The City of Tyler and its preservation partners have undertaken and completed an extensive survey and inventory of its historic resources located within the original Historic Significance Area — the area containing the Downtown Square and surrounding neighborhoods. An effective community historic preservation program should have on-going efforts to survey, document and inventory important buildings, structures, sites and objects. Future survey and documentation efforts should focus on specific quadrants of the City outside of the original Historic Significance Area where Post World War II and Mid-Century residential resources and property types predominate. National Register Historic District designations are not likely in these areas; however, they may be eligible for Neighborhood Conservation Districts in order to preserve and protect key resources and building fabric. One quadrant, the North Tyler neighborhoods, has the potential to yield potential landmark properties and histories related to Tyler’s African-American population. Making survey and inventory information readily accessible for public access through online portals should also be high priorities. Therefore, the key survey and registration goals are to continue survey efforts in areas of the City that have not been documented before and to make survey data more readily accessible to the public. 2 CITY OF TYLER, TEXAS | STRATEGIC HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN Program Administration and Management This aspect of the community preservation program concerns the operations and management of the City’s Historical Preservation Board, including its designation and design review processes, as specified in the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance (Unified Development Code). Several recommendations are made to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the Preservation Ordinance, such as clarifying standards for City Landmark designation, design review and demolition; adding new demolition by neglect provisions to promote historic resource protection and maintenance; and incorporating a demolition delay provision that can help avoid the demolition and loss of significant properties and structures. The production of a comprehensive set of design guidelines to supplement the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation is also recommended to aid in Board’s design review decisions. Another key recommendation is the re- establishment of a Neighborhood Conservation District