HOUSTON'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT RECEIVES AWARD FOR OLD SIXTH WARD HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS
December 18, 2007 -- The Houston Planning Department's historic preservation staff and the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) received the American Planning Association - Houston Chapter's 2007 Adaptive Re-Use/Historic Preservation for the creation of the Old Sixth Ward Protected Historic District.
The HAHC, the Planning and Development Department and the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs made great strides this year in raising public awareness about preservation issues, eliminating barriers and providing incentives for preservation. In collaboration, they worked tirelessly to protect the City of Houston's history despite major challenges and together have made historic changes. Perhaps the most significant accomplishment was the creation of the Old Sixth Ward Protected Historic District.
We took action to preserve a very unique part of Houston's heritage, in a way that still allows people to build under clear and fair standards and doesn't pit neighbor against neighbor," said Mayor Bill White. "We are gratified to see that effort supported and recognized in the community by such groups as the American Planning Association's Houston Chapter."
The Old Sixth Ward represents the greatest concentration of historic homes in the City of Houston. Its proximity to downtown, along with the increasing interest in redeveloping inner city areas, has resulted in a surge of development activity around and within the District. The creation of this district will prevent the demolition of any historic home as determined by HAHC. A total of 210 out of 270 homes or 77.78% will be protected from demolition.
This same collaboration also resulted in the Houston City Council approving changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance making it easier for neighborhoods to establish a historic district and strengthening provisions designed to enhance preservation efforts.
"There is a growing awareness among Houstonians of our city's rich history, as well as an expressed interest in preserving that history. We have architectural gems, both large and small, in which so much of our city's extraordinary development took place. We have historic neighborhoods where the people who planted the roots for the dynamic city we know today created a sense of place, not only for their families, but also for the entire community. These buildings and these areas continue to represent living history," said Betty Chapman, Chair of the Houston Archaeological and Historic Commission.
Adopted by City Council in 1995, the ordinance recognizes and protects the city's historic sites. The ordinance allows Council to designate buildings, structures, objects or sites that have historical, cultural, architectural or archaeological significance. By preserving the city's valuable historic resources, residents and visitors are visibly reminded of our culture and heritage, boosting civic pride and economic prosperity. More information is available online at the Planning Department web site at www.houstonplanning.com under Historic Preservation.
From left to right, HAHC Commissioner Sharie Beale, HAHC Chair Betty Trapp Chapman, Planning staff members Diana DuCroz and Randy Pace and APA representative Paresh Lad.
