Strategic Historic Preservation Plan 1 San Antonio City Council B Session August 5, 2009 Briefing on...

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan 1

San Antonio City Council B Session

August 5, 2009 Briefing on the Strategic Historic Preservation

Plan [T.C. Broadnax, Assistant City Manager; Shanon Peterson Wasielewski, Historic

Preservation Officer, Office of Historic Preservation]


Strategic Historic Preservation Plan

Need and Purpose Provide comprehensive plan to identify concrete strategies with short, mid, and long term implementation steps to improve preservation programs over the next 5 to 15 years

Critical in guiding City’s preservation efforts to capitalize on the unique assets of the past that enhance economic development, tourist appeal, and quality of life

Consistent with two major goals:– Preserve and protect the historic districts, buildings,

structures, landscapes, archaeology, culture, and stories of San Antonio.

– Strengthen the City of San Antonio’s reputation as a special place of American history, architecture, and culture.




San Antonio Preservation History One of the oldest historic preservation offices in the nation

1939 - City of San Antonio approved first preservation ordinance for the restoration of La Villita

1967 - Second preservation ordinance approved for the creation of historic districts and a historic board of review

1968 - King William (first National Register district in TX) becomes the city’s first historic district

Today the City of San Antonio has 24 local historic districts; 6 River Improvement Overlay (RIO) Districts; over 2000 individual local landmarks; and more than 1900 recorded archaeological sites


July 2008 - Office of Historic Preservation issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for a preservation consultant

September 2008 - Four proposals submitted and evaluated in conformance with criteria contained in the RFP

November 2008 – Interviews of all four preservation consultants conducted

December 2008 - Lakota Group approved to provide consulting services for the creation of a Strategic Historic Preservation Plan for the City of San Antonio (Contract amount: $65,096)


Preservation Plan Process



Planning Process The Lakota Group made five (5) visits between February and July 2009.

Each visit consisted of a series of meetings with various City departments, the community, the steering committee, and related stakeholders.

The plan was developed with input from a broad range of partners, including business and development interests.

The 31-member Preservation Plan Steering Committee provided valuable input into the process; HDRC briefing and support.



Steering Committee American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce

American Planning Association (APA)

Bexar County Historical Commission

Central Texas-Balcones Chapter of US Green Building Council

Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association

Downtown Alliance Government Hill Alliance Greater San Antonio Builders

Association Greater San Antonio Chamber

of Commerce Historic and Design Review

Commission (HDRC) King William Association Lavaca Neighborhood

Association Los Compadres de San Antonio

Missions National Historical Park

Monte Vista Historical Association

Monticello Park Olmos Park Terrace Paseo Del Rio Planning Commission Professional Engineers in Private

Practice Real Estate Council River Commission San Antonio Conservation

Society San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of

Commerce Southern Texas Archaeological

Association Tobin Hill Community Association Urban Land Institute (ULI ) VIA Metropolitan Transit Westside Development

Corporation Zoning Commission


The Lakota Group, Inc.Nick Kalogeresis

Scott Freres

John LaMotte

Urban Development ServicesScott Day

UDS


Why a Strategic Plan?

Plan for the preservation of important historical, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources

Assess and strengthen municipal historic preservation program

Encourage historic preservation-based economic development

Maintain and enhance neighborhood identity and character

Maintain and enhance San Antonio’s strategic advantage

Promote a city-wide historic preservation ethic

UDS


Historic Preservation Plan

Historic Context

State of the City Assessment of Current Historic Preservation Program

Key Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

Current and Potential Partners

Historic Preservation Planning Strategies Planning

Zoning

Historic Resources

Economic Development

Incentives

Education and Advocacy

Implementation Actions

Partners

UDS


Planning Process

State of the City (February – April, 2009)

Assessment Phase

Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities

Community Workshop #1

Visioning Phase (April – June, 2009)

Preliminary Strategies


Plan-Making Phase (June – August, 2009)

Preliminary Plan


Final Plan

UDS


Issues, Challenges, & Opportunities

“Our historic resources are limited…when gone…it’s gone”

Endangered resources and erosion of historic districts

“We need a collective vision about preservation” and “a predictable development process”

Integrating preservation within planning processes

Assess need for design guidelines

Making the historic preservation code less complex

“Economic development needs to be in harmony with preservation planning”

Undertaking historic-preservation based economic development initiatives

UDS


Issues, Challenges, & Opportunities

“Need to make historic preservation more desirable”

Need for additional incentives and leveraging existing ones

Eliminate disincentives

“Historic preservation is a way to manage change with respect for our common heritage.

Promoting an understanding of historic preservation’s benefits

Promoting a deeper appreciation of historical, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources

UDS


S T R A T E G I E S & R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S


Historic Preservation Plan

Historic Preservation Planning Strategies

Planning

Zoning

Historic Resources

Economic Development

Incentives


UDS


City Planning Strategies

Strategy #1 - Create one set of goals and objectives that become the City’s official vision and policies for historic preservation

Strategy #2 - Incorporate historic preservation elements in all citywide, district, and neighborhood planning initiatives

Strategy #3 - Promote preservation as a “green” and sustainable planning and development approach

Strategy #4 - Plan for the future of key historic areas of the City

UDS


City Zoning Strategies

Strategy #1 - Revise and consolidate related regulations within the UDC to enhance the effectiveness of the OHP and HDRC

Strategy #2 - Consolidate and create design guidelines to facilitate OHP and HDRC reviews of public and private development initiatives

Strategy #3 - Ensure zoning in neighborhoods and commercial districts promotes the preservation and reuse of historic resources

Strategy #4 - Consider form-based zoning within historic districts

UDS


Historic Resource Strategies

Strategy #1 - Update existing surveys and conduct new inventories throughout the City

Strategy #2 - Use the new information to designate additional districts and target public and private resources

Strategy #3 - Use the new information to create an “early warning” system to increase awareness and action regarding endangered resources

Strategy #4 - Make surveys more accessible to the public to promote a greater understanding of significant historic resources

UDS


Economic Development Strategies

Strategy #1 - Increase public awareness that historic preservation contributes to the City’s economic development

Strategy #2 - Consider preservation actions as integral components of existing and potential business district and neighborhood revitalization programs

Strategy #3 - Create new preservation initiatives that facilitate reuse of historic resources, revitalization of neighborhoods and commercial districts, and creation of new jobs and small businesses

UDS


Incentives Strategies

Strategy #1 - Enhance the effectiveness of existing historic preservation incentives and create additional programs that encourage reinvestment in historic resources

Strategy #2 - Streamline and expand promotion of preservation programs and incentives to property owners, builders, developers, and investors

Strategy #3 - Determine and remove disincentives and obstacles to preserving and reusing historic resources

UDS


Education & Advocacy

Strategy # 1 - Undertake a comprehensive outreach effort to increase awareness of San Antonio’s architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources, and the benefits of historic preservation

Strategy #2 - Harness public and private resources to market the numerous incentives and programs available to property owners, builders, and developers

UDS


UDS Priorities for Implementation

City Planning and Zoning Priorities

Integrate preservation elements in planning activities

Identify and protect key historic areas

Historic Resource Priorities

Implement early warning system

Refine enforcement strategies

Determine “game plan” for survey work

Economic Development and Incentives

Eliminate disincentives and assess existing ones

Implement preservation-based economic development initiatives


Update/revise outreach and educational materials



Encourages good development and supports preservation through consistent application of new tools such as expanded design guidelines and creative incentives for reinvestment in the urban core

Includes specific strategies for enhanced collaboration among departments on issues impacting preservation, economic development and sustainability

In Summary



Provides concrete recommendations and strategies to enhance overall historic preservation efforts in the community

Promotes historic preservation as a necessary component of the City’s strategies for economic development, planning, cultural tourism, and sustainability

In Summary


Next StepsHDRC, August 19, 2009

City Council, August 20, 2009


Questions?

Strategic Historic Preservation Plan 1 San Antonio City Council B Session August 5, 2009 Briefing on...

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