CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As Anchorage approaches its centennial in 2015, the city has been presented with a valuable opportunity to celebrate its history. Both the built environment of its oldest neighborhoods and its intangible cultural heritage oơer the chance to plan for responsible, sustainable development in the future. This Historic Preservation Plan for Anchorage’s Four Original Neighborhoods provides a chance to explore new ideas and creative solutions for the preservation of each neighborhood’s unique character. The recommendations contained within this plan are based on a broad deƤnition of historic preservation that goes beyond just bricks and mortar. Preservation and quality of life issues are inextricably linked, which is why the plan includes strategies related to improving walkability, fostering a healthy local economy, and telling stories about our heritage. ADOPTED 2/12/2013 AO 2013ǧ12 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN FOR ANCHORAGE’S FOUR ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOODS Purpose of the Plan The Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) for Anchorage’s Four Original Neighborhoods is a community- ECTIVE ͙͗ ȃ based plan focused on preserving historic character while planning for a sustainable future in HISTORIC PRESERVATION Anchorage’s original neighborhoods. The plan area includes the Government Hill, Downtown, South Addition, and Fairview Community Council areas. Because its borders include three of the four To identify and address the preservation neighborhoods, the Ship Creek area is also included in the HPP. and management of historic resources in Anchorage’s Four Original Neighborhoods. The purpose of the HPP is to address the preservation and management of historic resources, enhance local preservation values, and provide guidance for future impacts to historic resources To provide guidance for future mitigation to and landscape features in Anchorage’s Four Original Neighborhoods. The HPP is meant to be impacts to historic resources and landscapes used with existing neighborhood and Municipality planning documents, and will be adopted as identiƤed during completion of the Historic an element of the Municipality’s Comprehensive Plan. The HPP is speciƤc to the plan area, and Preservation Plan (HPP). provides recommendations that are relevant to the entire plan area as well as to each of the four neighborhoods. Information in the HPP can be used to inƪuence and inform the planning and design of future development projects and of individual buildings—including public infrastructure such as HPP O ECTIVE ͚͗ ȃ transportation, trails, and parks—to ensure the protection of neighborhood character and values that IDENTIFICATION OF KNIK ARM the citizens of Anchorage have expressed. CROSSING PROJECT IMPACTS The plan is intended to meet two primary objectives: (1) IdentiƤcation and preservation of To address the impacts to historic and cultural historic character and important historic resources of Anchorage’s Four Original Neighborhoods; resources from the design, construction, and and (2) identiƤcation of nik Arm Crossing Bridge Project impacts to Anchorage’s Four Original operation of the nik Arm Crossing project Neighborhoods, as well as the direct and indirect costs of these impacts to the Municipality of (AC). The AC will introduce physical/built, Anchorage, private businesses, property owners, and residents (see sidebar). visual, atmospheric, and audio impacts through right-of-way alignments and signiƤcantly increased traƥc volumes. To provide additional information not included in the Government Hill Neighborhood Plan. ADOPTED 2/12/2013 2 AO 2013ǧ012 CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preservation in Anchorage Today Historic preservation is not new to the Municipality of Anchorage. In fact, the Municipality has been actively supporting historic preservation activities, such as the survey and documentation of historic resources, since the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many in the Anchorage community have continued these practices in the Four Original Neighborhoods by restoring private residences and opening signiƤcant historic sites to the public, such as the Oscar Anderson House and the Pioneer Schoolhouse. The HPP promotes these established preservation values, and therefore the plan begins with a review of the current local historic preservation programs and tools in Anchorage. In 1995, the Municipality of Anchorage became a CertiƤed Local Government (CLG), which means that it partnered with the State Historic Preservation Oƥce and the National Park Service to promote grassroots historic preservation. The Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC) was formed in January 2007 to support the goals of the CLG. Since that time, the AHPC has partnered with groups such as Alaska Association for Historic Preservation, Anchorage Woman’s Club, and the Cook Inlet Historical Society, among others, on preservation projects in the Four Original Neighborhoods. The Municipality currently utilizes historic resource surveys and context statements to gather information about its heritage. Surveys are essential because they form the foundation of a city’s preservation program: identifying and discovering signiƤcant buildings and landscapes allows residents and planners to fully incorporate these resources and values into planning and development decisions. Prior architectural surveys and studies conducted in the Four Original Neighborhoods have all been conducted using a variety of diơerent methods, which has led to some inconsistencies in the results. These surveys are summarized in the HPP, and are on Ƥle at the Municipality of Anchorage Planning Department or the Alaska State Historic Preservation Oƥce. Education about historic preservation incentive programs at the federal, state, and local levels would increase utilization of these programs in Anchorage. Incentives already administered by the National Park Service and the Alaska State Historic Preservation Oƥce include Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits, The HPP promotes the established preservation values in Alaska Historical District Revolving Loan Fund, New Markets Tax Credits, low-income housing tax credits, the Municipality of Anchorage. and energy credits. Implementation of strategies in Anchorage 2020: Anchorage Bowl Comprehensive Plan—many of which are powerful preservation tools—would also establish local preservation incentives. ADOPTED 2/12/2013 AO 2013ǧ12 3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN FOR ANCHORAGE’S FOUR ORIGINAL NEIGHBORHOODS HPP and Title 21 REFERENCES TO OTHER PLANS The nomination of historic districts and historic architectural standards will be addressed in the future AMC 21.05.03 (Title 21) after Title 21 adoption. Nomination of properties and architectural standards will include public Comprehensive Plan elements involvement, property-owner support, and municipal review and approval. AMC_4.60.030 (AHPC) HPP and Anchorage 2020 E.4: Formulate a Historic Preservation Plan, and submit to the assembly, mayor, and planning and Policy #51 of Anchorage 2020 states, DzThe Municipality shall deƤne Anchorage’s historic buildings and zoning commission for incorporation into the sites and develop a conservation strategy.” The strategy to implement Policy #51 is the development 2020 Comprehensive Plan. of a Functional Plan speciƤcally noted as a Historic Preservation Plan. Functional Plans study and recommend future needs for speciƤc public facilities and services. Examples of other functional plans: Anchorage 2020: Anchorage Bowl Areawide Trails Plan; Long-Range Transportation Plan; and the Anchorage Park, Natural Resource, and Comprehensive Plan Recreation Facility Plan. The HPP recommendations for public facilities, including municipal-owned Conserve Anchorage’s heritage of historic historic buildings, trails, and services, are consistent with Anchorage 2020. buildings and sites. Policy 51: The Municipality shall deƤne Anchorage’s historic buildings and sites and develop a conservation strategy. Functional Plan (Historic Preservation Plan). ADOPTED 2/12/2013 4 AO 2013ǧ012 CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Summary of Principal Recommendations The principal recommendations in the HPP include projects, programs, and strategies that will preserve neighborhood character; maintain and/or increase trails and walking access; incorporate elements of our important history through a variety of interpretive elements; provide guidance to the Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission, Community Councils, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Assembly in land use and historic preservation decisions; and identify strategies for the mitigation of large infrastructure projects. These include: à Walking, Biking and Trail Projects; à Historic Property and Building Preservation; à Telling Our Stories through Interpretation Projects; à IdentiƤcation of Historic Resources for Mitigation of Transportation Impacts; à Nomination of Properties and Districts to the National Register; and à Historic Preservation Funding. Walkability, bikeability, and easy access to the Tony nowles Coastal Trail are among the characteristics valued most Walking and Biking highly by residents of the Four Original Neighborhoods. Anchorage was established in 1915. At that time, the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC) started construction of the Alaska Railroad and the 13 AEC cottages built on what became Government Hill. The Ƥrst auction and platting of downtown Anchorage also occurred in 1915. This came after the establishment of the AEC oƥces in Ship Creek in 1914. Motorized vehicles were nonexistent