How do I know if my building is historic?

A building must be at least 50 years old with few changes or alterations to the exterior to be deemed historic. In 1987, the City of Arlington hired a consultant to conduct a survey of historic structures in the city. The Historic Resources Survey lists the historic structures in Arlington and gives them a ranking by importance of high, medium, and low. To obtain a copy, call the Community Services Department at 817-459-6777 or at 201 E. Abram Street, 7th Floor.
Additional structures will also have met the 50-year threshold since the 1987 survey. For further information about the designation process, please contact the Texas Historical Commission (THC) at P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas, 78701, by calling 512-463-5853, or visit www.thc.state.tx.us.

How can a property be designated historic?

A historic property can be designated on three levels: local, state and national. For local designation, contact the Arlington Preservation Foundation at 817-460-4001. A State Historical Marker is administered through the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and can be for a specific building, site or subject, such as a church congregation. A National Register of Historic Places designation can be for a specific property or district of historic properties.
The Texas Historical Commission can provide information on both the State and National Register designations. The Texas Historical Commission’s address is P.O. Box 12276, Austin, Texas 78701. THC staff can be reached a 512-463-5853 or via the internet at www.thc.state.tx.us.

Are there any laws governing historic properties?

If a property has a Landmark Preservation Zoning Overlay, it is governed by the City of Arlington Zoning Ordinance, Section 9-600. Any property owner proposing modifications to properties which are in the Landmark Preservation Zoning Overlay district is required to seek a Certificate of Appropriateness from the City of Arlington’s Landmark Preservation Commission. Additional information is available by contacting the Community Services Department at 817-459-6258 or at 501 W. Sanford, Suite 10.

If a property has a local, state or national designation, specific rehabilitation requirements will need to be met depending on resources used to improve or alter the property. The City’s Landmark Preservation Commission can determine what, if any, requirements or restrictions need to be met through a Certificate of Appropriateness. The Community Services Department can assist with the review for Certification of Appropriateness; contact them at 817-459-6258 or at 501 W. Sanford, Suite 10.