Tumwater Historic Register
Questions & Answers
What is the Tumwater Register of Historic Places?
The Register is an official list of buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts identified as having historic significance worthy of recognition by the City and encouragement of efforts by owners to maintain, rehabilitate, and preserve these resources.
The Register was established in 1994 when the City Council enacted a Historic Preservation Ordinance.
What qualifies a property for the historic register?
The Tumwater Register of Historic Places recognizes properties that are at least 50 years old (or of lesser age if of exceptional importance), and which are important for one or more of the following reasons:
1) Historical Importance -- is the site of an historic event with an effect upon Tumwater; is identified with a person or group who had some influence on Tumwater; or exemplifies the cultural, social, religious, economic, political, aesthetic or engineering history of the city.
2) Architectural Importance -- (a) is an individual building that embodies those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type, period, style or method of design or construction; is the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the city; or (b) is a group of buildings that may lack distinction individually but together are easily distinguished as a unit and characterize an earlier era, way of living, and construction of the built environment.
3) Archaeological Importance -- has yielded or may be likely to yield archaeological information important in pre-history or history.
4) Birthplaces, Graves, Cemeteries -- is a birthplace or grave of a person of outstanding historical importance, or is a cemetery significant because of its age, distinctive design features or association with historic events or cultural patterns.
Historic properties must also have "integrity", that is, they have not undergone changes which substantially affect their historic appearance.
What is the process for designation?
In order for a property to be placed on the Register, the following steps are taken:
1) Applicant submits an application form to THPC Staff.
2) Staff reviews the application, prepares a report for the Commission, and sets a public hearing.
3) Staff arranges an on-site review of the property.
4) Staff notifies the applicant, owner, and contiguous property owners of the public hearing.
5) The Historic Preservation Commission conducts a public hearing and makes a determination of the eligibility of the property.
6) Staff secures the owner's permission for the placement and forwards the Commission's recommendations to Tumwater City Council.
7) Tumwater City Council officially designates the property to the Tumwater Register of Historic Places.
What are the effects of historic register placement?
Special Property Tax Valuation for Qualified Renovations -- A state law enacted in 1985 provides a 10-year special property tax valuation for approved renovations to historic properties on the local register. Such renovations must cost at least 25 percent of the building's value. Additional information is available from the Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission Staff at (360) 754-4180.
What is not affected by the placement?
Placement on the register does not affect the use of the structure, nor does it require repairs or restoration.
How is the certificate of appropriateness conducted?
Whenever a building permit or other city approval is applied for on a Historic Register building, the Historic Preservation Commission is notified. No permit shall be issued until a Certificate of Appropriateness or a waiver is received from the Commission. Documentation regarding the proposed changes is required.
The Commission will review the proposed work for the following considerations:
1. For work on an individual historic property; effects of the proposed work in restoring, changing, destroying or maintaining significant historic features of the property.
2. For construction of a new improvement or addition: compatibility of its exterior with the existing historic buildings and structures on the site.
3. In the case of work being done within a historic district: the effect of the work on the historic character of the district and how it compares to design standards adopted by the City for the district.
The Historic Preservation Commission does not expect that buildings remain exactly as they were when built, nor does it expect that buildings will be restored to their original condition. Contemporary design for alternations and additions will be encouraged when they do not destroy historical material and when the design is compatible with the size, scale, material and character of the property and its environment.
The Historic Preservation Commission will issue a Certificate of Appropriateness, a Condition of Issuance, or waiver in writing at their regular meeting which will be forwarded to the Development Services Department. Appeal of the decision of the Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission is to Tumwater City Council. Appeal from City Council is to Superior Court.
Can a property be removed from the register?
A property owner may appeal to Tumwater city Council to remove their property from the Register at any time.
What is not reviewed?
1) Ordinary Repair and Maintenance
2) Emergency Repair
3) Painting
Where can applications and more information be obtained?
Contact Tumwater Planning, Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission, (360) 754-4160. The form is also available for download in PDF format (note: you will need Adobe Acrobat to view and print the form).
