Every nominated landmark or district must meet one or more of the following criteria for designation.
(A) Criteria for landmark designation. The Commission shall limit its consideration to the following criteria in making a determination on a nomination of an area, property, structure, site or object for designation by ordinance as a landmark:
(1) Its exemplification of an architectural type, style or design distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness or overall quality of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship;
(2) Its identification as the work of an architect, designer, engineer or builder whose individual work is significant in the history or development of the city, the state, the Midwest region or the United States;
(3) Its exemplification of important planning and urban design techniques distinguished by innovation, rarity, uniqueness or overall quality of design or detail;
(4) Its representation of an historic, cultural, architectural, archaeological or related theme expressed through distinctive areas, properties, structures, sites or objects that may or may not be contiguous;
(5) Its unique location or distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community of the city;
(6) Its exemplification of a pattern of neighborhood development or settlement significant to the cultural history or traditions of the city, whose components may lack individual distinction;
(7) Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the historic, cultural, architectural, archaeological or related aspect of the development of the city, state, Midwest region or the United States;
(8) Its association with important cultural or social aspects or events in the history of the city, the state, the Midwest region or the United States;
(9) Its location as a site of important archaeological or natural significance; and
(10) Its location as a site of a significant historic or prehistoric event or activity which may or may not have taken place within or involved the use of any existing improvements on the property.
(B) Criteria for historic district designation.
(1) Unified historic districts. All historic districts that contain contiguous properties, structures, areas or objects of significance must satisfy the following criteria:
(a) At least 50% of the properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the historic district must satisfy at least one of the criteria for landmark designation set forth in division (A) above;
(b) The Historic District must be geographically definable and reasonably compact in geographic size; and
(c) The Historic District must satisfy at least one of the following five criteria:
1. The properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the Historic District, taken together, shall convey or represent one or more architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social or other aspects particular to the heritage of the city, county, state or county;
2. The properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the Historic District shall exhibit consistency or similarity of use, design, size, scale, style, orientation, materials, detailing, facade design, ornamentation, color, lighting, technology and/or storefronts;
3. The properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the Historic District must have been built, used or have been significant during the same specified time period;
4. The properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the Historic District must create, define or enhance the character of the area for which historic district designation is appropriate; and/or
5. The properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the historic district must be largely intact, particularly with respect to those qualities for which designation as a Historic District is sought, unless such alterations or modifications to those properties, structures, areas, objects and landscapes of significance in the area comply with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
(2) Non-contiguous historic districts. All historic districts that contain non-contiguous properties, structures, areas or objects of significance must satisfy the following criteria:
(a) The elements of the historic district must be thematically related; and
(b) One hundred percent of the properties, structures, areas or objects of significance in the historic district satisfy at least one of the criteria for landmark designation set forth in division (A) above.
(C) Integrity of landmarks and districts. Any area, property, structure, site or object that meets any one or more of the criteria in division (A) above shall also have sufficient integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship to make it worthy of preservation or restoration.
(Prior Code, § 51-5) (Ord. 2012-03, passed 2-6-2012)