If you have questions regarding historic preservation and the legislation concerning historic buildings in the City of Las Vegas and the State of New Mexico, you may find the information you need here.

In addition to the information on this site, the CCHP has commissioned three surveys of Las Vegas' 918 historic resources and nine National Register of Historic Places districts. These have been published as "Architecture and Preservation in Las Vegas: A Study of 6 Districts" by Ellen Threinen, "Architecture and Preservation in Las Vegas II" and "Architecture and Preservation in Las Vegas III" by Chris Wilson. These surveys are available at both the City of Las Vegas Carnegie Library and the New Mexico Highlands University Donnelly Library.

Contents:

• What Makes A Place Historic?

• So You Want to Register Your House - What Do You Do?

• Is There Financial Assistance Available to Help Maintain Your Historic Building?

Almost everyone has a favorite place- perhaps with memories of time spent with a grandparent or older generation that relates something of their family's past and traditions.. However, important as they are to an individual or a family, not all of them are considered for designation as historic on a national, state, or local list. For that honor, the place must also satisfy some of the following:

1. character, interest, or value as part of the heritage, development or cultural characteristics of the City of Las Vegas, the State of New Mexico, of the United States, for example, the Plaza Park as an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail

2. location as the site of a significant event, for example, Lincoln Park as site of the first Rough Rider Reunion

3. identification with a person who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City, for example, Governor Otero's home on South Pacific

4. portrayal of the environment for a group of people in an era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural style, for example, El Distrito de las Escuelas, the neighborhood south of the Plaza

5. embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type of specimen, for example, the Chapman Lodge Masonic Temple as an example of Richardsonian Romanesque style

6. identification with the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the city, for example, Chicago architect Issac Rapp's Murphy's Drug Store on Douglas

7. embodiment of elements of architectural design, details, materials, or craftsmanship which represents a significant architectural innovation, for example, the Edward Durell Stone International style house on North Eighth Street

8. relationship to other distinctive buildings, sites, or areas which are eligible for preservation according to a plan based on historic, cultural, or architectural motif, for example, Carnegie Park

9. unique location of singular physical characteristics representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City, for example, the use of traditional adobe and room-on-room construction in the Old Town Neighborhoods

10. archaeological value in that it has produced or can be expected to produce data affecting theories of historic or prehistoric interest, for example, Fort Union National Monument and the Santa Fe Trail

11. value as an aspect of community sentiment or public pride, for example,the Montezuma hot summers

12. exemplification of the cultural, economic, social, or historical heritage of the City, for example, the acequias and WPA stone work along the Gallinas River.

1. What should I do first?

   Contact you State Historic Preservation Officer. IN New Mexico the SHPO is located in Room 101 at 228 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe. The telephone number is 505-827-8320.

2. Why should I contact the SHPO?

   Because the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties an d the National Register of Historic Places are administered by the State Historic Preservation Division.

3. What are the State and National Registers?

   The State Register of Cultural Properties as we know it today was probably begun in 1964 when the State Planning Office included historic properties in a survey of state resources undertaken with financial aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The "Cultural Properties Act" in 1978 established the regulations for the State Register of Cultural Properties that are in effect now. The purpose of the act reads as follows:

   The legislature hereby declares that the historical and cultural heritage of the state is one of the state's most valued and important asset; that the public has an interest in the preservation of all antiquities, historic and prehistoric ruins, sites, structures, places objects and similar places ad things for their scientific and historical information and value; that the neglect, desecration and destruction of historical and cultural sites, structures, places and objects results in an irreplaceable loss to the public; and that therefore it is the purpose of the Cultural Properties Act (18-6-1 to 18-6-17 NMSA 1978) to provide for the preservation, protection and enhancement of structures, sites and objects of historical significance within the state, in a manner conforming with, but not limited by, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-665).

   The federal government has been keeping lists of historic properties at least since the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. The National Register of Historic Places, as we know it today, was established by the national Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended. Section 1 reads as follows:
   • a. This Act may be cited as the "National Historic Preservation Act."

   • The Congress finds and declares that:
     1. the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage;

     2. the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people;

     3. historic properties significant to the Nation's heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing frequency;

     4. the preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public intersect so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans;

     5. in the face of ever-increasing extensions of urban centers, highways, and residential, commercial, and industrial developments, the present governmental and nongovernmental historic preservation programs and activities are inadequate to insure future generations a genuine opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the rich heritage of our Nation;

     6. the increased knowledge of our historic resources, the establishment of better means of identifying and administrating them, and the encouragement of their preservation will improve the planning and execution of Federal and federally assisted projects and will assist economic growth and development,; and

     7. although the major burdens of historic preservation have been borne and major efforts initiated by private agencies and individuals, and both should continue to play a vital role, it is nevertheless necessary and appropriate for the Federal Government to accelerate its historic preservation programs and activities, to give maximum encouragement to agencies and individuals undertaking preservation by private means, and to assist the State and local governments and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States to expand and accelerate their historic preservation programs and activities.

4. What is the process for getting my house registered?
   1. Obtain the State Register forms and guidelines for completing them from the SHPO. If your house is at least fifty years old, has not been substantially altered and you can develop a narrative history documenting its significance locally, it probably will qualify for the State Register.

   2. Fill out the forms giving as much information as you can. The SHPO would rather have too much information than not enough. Include newspaper articles, copies of old photographs, letters, articles and any other kinds of information you have. Take good current photographs of the exterior (and the interior, if it is significant). If possible, take black and white photographs. Send all of this material to the SHPO. Please remember to write detailed narratives for the description and significance sections. With limited staff time, we do not have time to write nominations from scratch.

   3. The SHPO staff will review the nomination material and contact you if more information is needed or if he or she things the nomination is complete.

   4. The SHPO will contact you as to when the nomination can be considered for State listing by the Cultural Properties Review Committee. The CPRC is an advisory body to the SHPO, appointed by the Governed, that makes the final decision to list or not list a property in the State Register of Cultural Properties. They also recommend that properties that meet the criteria be forwarded to the National Register for possible listing in the National Register. The Cultural Properties Review Committee meets once every two months. If the CPRC votes to list your property in the State Register, listing will begin from the date of the meeting. This is important for you to remember in case you are interested in tax credits for certified rehabilitation. Sometimes the CPRC will vote to table a nomination until another meeting so more information may be collected. Sometimes they will recommend a nomination be forwarded to the National Register at the same meeting as it is listed in the State Register. And it does happen that they will reject a nomination altogether.

   5. How long will it take to have my house registered in the State Register of Cultural Properties?

      Depending on a variety of circumstances, it can take as little as two or three months or as much as one year. If you think you would like to have your house considered for registration, it is best to start planning NOW.

   6. If my house meets the criteria for registration on the National Register of Historic Places, how long will it take to be listed?

      The standard wisdom is that it will take about a year, maybe a little less, but just as easily a little more than a year. P>

   7. What are the criteria for listing in the National Register?

      The National Register Criteria are the following:

      The quality or significance in American history, architecture, archeology, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:

      • A. that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or

      • B. that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or

      • C. that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

      • D. that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

      There are some criteria considerations. Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces, or graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature, and properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register. However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of districts that do meet the criteria or if they are considered of exceptional significance. (Bulletin 16)

   8. Will it be difficult to get my house registered in the National Register of Historic Places?

      Yes, and no! If you want your house registered individually, it will need to be a good example of an architectural style in the areas, be associated with persons who were at least locally significant or be a part of a thematic category (historic context) in the area. If your home is part of an entire district that is nominated, a historic context is developed for the district. In a district, some houses are contributing and a few may be noncontributing. National Register standards for evaluation and registration have become more stringent in the past few years primarily because of the tax credit program and because information provided in nominations is used as archival information by researchers, legislators, city planners, developers, and a host of other people for whom historic properties need to be considered.

      If you think your house is in a neighborhood that might have district potential, contact your SHPO about historical and architectural surveys. Almost all district nominations are the result of building by building surveys. District nominations make good sense because they help to preserve groups of buildings.

   9. Are there special forms for National Register nominations?

      Yes, there are. The National Register forms and the guidelines for completing the forms (Bulletin 16) are available from the SHPO or from the National Register section of the National Park Service. Over the years the information needed on the National Register forms has become very specialized and technical. Unless you are a fairly good researcher, organizer, and writer and don't mind spending a good del of time getting materials together and rewriting and revising, it is suggested that you have someone familiar with completing the forms help you. The SHOP staff is willing to help, but staff time is limited.

   10. What is a historic context?

       The Secretary of the Interior's standards state three distinct requirements for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. First of all, properties must possess significance. Second, the significance must satisfy at least one of the National Register criteria. And finally, significance must be derived from an understanding of historic context. The standards recognize that all that possess age is not necessarily significant, and what is significant can only be determined in relationship to the historic development from which it emerged and in relationship to a group of similarity associated properties. (Bulletin 16)

       A historic context,is a body of information about historic properties organized by theme, place, and time. It is the organization of information about our prehistory and history according to the stages of development occurring at various times and places.

       Contact your SHPO for additional information about historic contexts.

   11. Are there any benefits from listing my house in the State Register of Cultural Properties?

       Yes, there are.

       1. Your house will be eligible for a State Register of Cultural Properties plaque. (However, the cost of the plaque must be borne by the property owner).

       2. Your house may have some protection from adverse effects from state funded projects.

       3. Your house should qualify for state tax credits for certified rehabilitation. If your house is in a registered district, it must be contributing to be eligible for tax credits.

       Contact your SHPO for more information.

   12. Are there any benefits from listing my house in the National Register of Historic Places?

       Again, yes, there are.

       1. Your house will be eligible for a National Register plaque. (Again, the cost is borne by the owner.)

       2. Your house will have some protection from adverse effects of federally funded projects.

       3. Income-producing properties should qualify for federal tax incentives for substantial, certified rehabilitation. Here, again, if your house is in a district it must be contributing to be eligible for tax credits.

       Again, contact your SHPO for more information.

   13. What will the National Register NOT do?
       1. Restrict the rights of private property owners in the use, development, or sale of private historic property, nor require that properties be maintained, repaired, or restored.

       2. List individual properties is the owner objects or historic districts if a majority of the property owners object.

       3. Automatically invoke local historic district zoning or local landmark designation.

       4. Stop federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects which may affect historic properties.

       For a complete list, contact your SHPO.

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   Is There Financial Assistance Available to Help Maintain Your Historic Building?

   There is an impression among the public that you can obtain grants and other forms of funding to renovate historic buildings, unfortunately, this is not exactly true. While the sources of funding available to you depend upon your building, the way you intend to use the building, your location, and your financial situation, for the majority of historic building owners there are no sources of direct funding. However, the news is not all bad. There are tax credits available for some renovation work.

   The old federal programs which offered tax credits to home owners for historic renovation which sparked so much rehabilitation of historic neighborhoods in our inner cities are gone. The only federal tax credits are for owners of historic commercial buildings. However, the State of New Mexico does have a tax credit program for historic renovation which applies to both individuals and corporations, for both commercial and private properties. This program may allow you to deduct the cost of maintaining your historic building from your state income tax for up to five years.

   Before you get depressed about the lack of financial assistance for your renovation project, remember, it has been shown repeatedly that renovation and rehabilitation of historic properties is less expensive than the demolition and building of new structures, even without grants or tax credits. Historic preservation makes sense not just because it preserves our heritage, but also because it is cost effective.

   If you have a historic building which you belive you cannot afford to renovate, please call the CCHP (505-425-8803), or us, before you decide to apply for a demolition permit. Depending on your individual circumstances, there may be financial assistance available to you which is not covered in this document.

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