Home
About Us

Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission

What's New?

Public Notice

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to List Your Property
National Register of Historic Places
Spokane Register of Historic Places
Design Review
House Historic Research Guide
List of Area Consultants
List of State Consultants

Register Listings

Spokane Register Properties
Spokane Local Historic Districts
National Historic Districts
State & National Register Properties

Incentives

Investment Tax Credit
Special Valuation Tax Incentive
Open Space Taxation
Facade/Conservation Easement
Conditional Use Permit
Building Code Relief
Misc. Incentives
Other Funding

Forms & Brochures

Links & Resources

Contact Us

Site Map

A Department in Business & Development Services

 

 

Spokane Register of Historic Places

Effective October 1, 2007: Payment needs to be made at the time the nomination is filed. Nominations will not be reviewed without payment.

The Spokane Register of Historic Places is our local government's official list of those properties that have contributed to the community's history. The Register was established by ordinance in both the City and County of Spokane in late 1981 and early 1982. These ordinances deem the City/County Historic Landmarks Commission responsible for the stewardship of historic and architecturally significant properties. Nominations to the Spokane Register must be accompanied by owner consent, or in the case of a district, the majority of the owners' consent. 

Eligibility for the Spokane Register is determined by the following criteria:

1) Those structures that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our local history; or

2) That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or

3) That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

4) That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history; and

5) The property is 50 years of age or older.

Once a property has been determined eligible for placement on the Spokane Register, a nomination is completed for the property either by the property owner or a consultant. The nomination then goes before the Spokane Landmarks Commission which meets the third Wednesday of every month. Once the Commission approves the nomination for listing, the property owner(s) signs a Management Agreement. This agreement states that he/she will abide by the outlined Management Standards and obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness for any action affecting use or exterior appearance, or involving demolition or new construction attached to the structure. The Management Standards are the mechanism used to ensure that structures maintain their historic character and architectural integrity.

There are potential benefits for properties placed on the Spokane Register. These include tax advantages that can reduce the amount of property tax an owner pays, and potentially higher sales values for designated properties.

To learn more about Spokane Register tax incentives, check out Special Valuation Tax Incentive.

Top of Page

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION:

Applicants are advised to contact the Spokane City-County Office of Historic Preservation at (509) 625-6983 prior to initiating the application process.

1) SPOKANE REGISTER NOMINATION FORM: 

DRAFT:  A draft nomination to the Spokane Register of Historic Places should be submitted according to the deadline schedule. Submit the form in hard copy to the Historic Preservation Office or electronically via email to kmarshall@spokanecity.org. Staff will respond within seven days with suggestions or revisions.  If you do not want to prepare the nomination yourself, you may wish to contact the Preservation Office for a list of experienced consultants

 

FINAL FORM:  The final nomination to the Spokane Register must be submitted according to the deadline scheduleCompleted final nomination forms and accompanying documents may be submitted electronically or delivered as hard copies to the Historic Preservation Office.   

 

To download a copy of the nomination form or to view the nomination guide, click here.

2) MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FORM:  A completed Management Agreement form, with notarized signature of owner(s) (this is generally completed after the nomination is reviewed by the Landmarks Commission).

3) MAPS:  Illustrative maps.

4) COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS:  Six to ten color slides or digital photographs showing primary and secondary elevations and landscape; at least one photograph showing the property in the context of its neighborhood; and six to ten representative interior photos of significant interior features (please submit prior to the Landmarks Commission meeting).

5) FEES:  Application fee: $67.00 (includes County auditor filing fee) for residential properties and $92.00 for commercial.

Effective October 1, 2007: Payment needs to be made at the time the nomination is filed. Nominations will not be reviewed without payment.

For a guide on how to complete a Spokane Register nomination form, click here.

7) DEADLINES:

SHLC Meeting  *New Nomination 1st Draft Deadline
January 21, 2009 DEC 21, 08
February 18, 2009 JAN 18, 09
March 19, 2009 FEB 19, 09
April 15, 2009 MAR 15, 09
May 20, 2008 APR 20, 09
June 17, 2009 MAY 17, 09
July 15, 2009 JUN 15, 09
August 19, 2009 JUL 19, 09
September 16, 2009 AUG 16, 09
October 21, 2009 SEP 21, 09
November 18, 2009 OCT 18, 09
December 16, 2009 NOV 16, 09

* New nominations are due one month in advance for review and corrections

Historic Preservation Fee Increases:

Nominations to the Local Register of historic places for:

Residential properties: (+ County Auditor Filing Fee)              $ 50.00

Commercial properties:(+ County Auditor Filing Fee)            $100.00

 

County Auditor Filing Fees:

Notice of Management Agreement

Residential and Commercial                                                      $ 62.00

 

Design Review Applications:

Staff Review:                                                                             $ 25.00

Commission Review:                                                                 $ 75.00

Work done without a certificate (to include regular fee also):

                                                                                                 $150.00

                                                                                  

Section 106 Reviews:                                                             $ 50.00

 

Special Valuation Applications:

Residential properties:                                                               $150.00

Commercial properties:

·         less than 1 Million in rehab at the time of filing               $250.00

·        1 Million to 5 Million    in rehab at time of filing              $500.00

·        Over 5 Million or more in rehab at time of filing              $1000.00

 

Investment Tax Credit Assistance (based on value of rehab):

Fifty thousand or less                                                                $125.00

More than Fifty thousand but not more than one hundred

thousand                                                                                   $250.00

Over one hundred thousand but not more than 2 Million            $500.00

Over 2 Million but not more than 5 million                                 $1,000.00

Over 5 million                                                                           $1,500.00

 

Top of Page

APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS:

1) HEARING SCHEDULE: Once staff determines the application is complete, a hearing will be scheduled with the Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission, which meets the third Wednesday of each month.

2) PUBLIC NOTICE:  Staff will publish a public hearing notice in the Spokesman-Review 14 days prior to the hearing date. 

3) SITE VISIT:  A sub-committee of the Landmarks Commission will visit and view the exterior of the property prior to the hearing date.

4) HEARING:  Staff will present the nomination.  The applicant, or a qualified representative or consultant, should be present and will have an opportunity to offer comments concerning the nomination.

5) DECISION:  City staff submits the nomination, Management Agreement, and findings of fact to City Council or the Board of County Commissioners for a final decision.  Two copies of the final nomination are required for this submittal.

6) NOTIFICATION:  Staff for the City Council or the Board of County Commissioners will notify the applicant of the final decision.

A draft nomination is due at least four weeks prior to the public meeting, which is scheduled for the third Wednesday of every month. Please refer to the deadline schedule for nominations.

Top of Page

LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT

A Spokane Historic District provides the highest level of protection to historic resources in a neighborhood. Eligibility requirements and the application process is the same as that for individual properties listed on the Spokane Register. However, a local historic district requires approval by a majority of the property owners. 

To learn if your neighborhood is eligible as a local historic district, contact us at (509) 625-6983.

To learn more about neighborhood preservation, click here

To learn more about establishing local historic districts, click here.

For information on Spokane's three local historic districts, click here.

Top of Page

HISTORIC MARKER PROGRAM

The Historic Preservation Office and the Historic Landmarks Commission have long worked toward the establishment of an historic marker program for properties listed in the Spokane Register of Historic Places. Local artist Marcia Smith  created a handsome design executed in a 10-inch bronze plaque. The plaques are designed for exterior mounting, and finished with a clear acrylic lacquer for extra protection against the elements.

The Spokane Register Historic Marker Program offers us the opportunity to recognize those residences and commercial properties which contribute significantly to the historic and architectural character of this community. It is our goal to develop an accompanying brochure highlighting the history of each of the properties participating in the marker program. Thus, we envision this project as a means of applauding local preservation efforts and an effective educational tool.

Download the Historic Marker Form.

Top of Page

 

© 1997-2006 City of Spokane, Washington. All Rights Reserved.
Last Date Modified: June 17, 2009

 

 

American Legion/Metals Building
Davenport Hotel, Hall of Doges
Wetzel Warehouse
Paulsen Building
Montvale Hotel
Steam Plant Square
Monroe Street Bridge
Spokane County Courthouse