The last two episodes of True Tales From Old Houses have been especially fun. Like a good parent, as a podcast host, I do not have a favorite guest. However, I have enjoyed these two shows for specific reasons. The episodes titled, The Greener Good and the Neighborhood, Part I and Part II, both feature Ashley Goldman from The Gold Hive. Ashley lives in sunny San Diego, California, and talking to her feels like visiting home.
Ashley and I share a lot of the same interests, such as sustainability, green living, and of course, historic preservation. We also both believe in making energy-efficiency upgrades that offer a legitimate ROI, unlike replacing original windows. Hearing Ashley talk about her little bungalow and her interests with so much passion reminded me of living in California. Yes, I still miss it.
During Part II, Ashley described her experience living in a house that is part of a historic district. We talked about the process of becoming a contributing house in a historic neighborhood or district and the benefits and drawbacks of the designation.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about completing the paperwork to place BHH on the National Register of Historic Places, primarily to protect the windows. BHH was built for someone noteworthy in our community and having it listed should be a slam dunk. However, I still have concerns.
- What are the tax benefits in New York?
- Would I have to remove the additions or porches from the 1940s?
- Would the designation appeal to eventual buyers?
Those questions are rhetorical at this stage. I talked to Andy about it, and I think we are going to start the research phase of exploring the benefits and putting the information packet together. Of course, I will share it all here on the blog.
Here are the links for both episodes:
The Greener Good and the Neighborhood Part I and Part II
Is your house listed on the National Register of Historic Places? If so, are you happy about it? Was it worth the work and hoop-jumping?
4 Comments
Ryan
I’ve also thought about registering our house as a historic property however as a humble bungalow it doesn’t have anything particularly noteworthy to justify it. But that is actually part of the reason I feel it deserves recognition and protection. Holding me back it the fact that we would gain no benefits from it’s status as a historic property and the protection provided only extends to it not being torn down without a new structure replacing it. All of the property tax benefits are focused on homes that need significant restoration on a grander scale. Our property taxes are modest and would not increase as a result of my restoring my wood windows or removing aluminum siding from the trim and repainting. I’m disappointed that “historic” homes are restricted to those that belonged to the rich members of our communities in the past (no disrespect to Blake Hill House). Is the story of a USPS worker who lived in the same home from the day is was completed until he died at 103 not part of our city’s history? Or of the brick mason who built the house and the house next door as a home for himself and his wife? Historic neighborhoods (like Ashley’s) do help protect many of these houses and our city has done audits of some of the working class neighborhoods to inventory the historic homes (which there are a lot but often with non-sympathetic additions or renovations or just in poor condition).
Stacy
There is so much to research and consider. I completely understand your feelings about the unfairness of historic properties being limited to structures that belonged to the rich and influential. There is an imbalance, and I’d love to see the tides turn. Your feelings are 100% valid. I wonder if True Tales From Old Houses could be a part of this change. I’d love to tell the stories about a brick mason or a long-term USPS worker.
monica
Someone on my street just ripped out all of the original 1920’s windows from their home and replaced with some vinyl windows with stick on mullions (praise style) that are not even the right style for he house. Please keep your window safe for ever!!!!!
Stacy
That hurts so much, Monica. How awful. 🙁