City’s Potential Historic Resources List

The City’s Potential Historic Resources List is a means to identify and list the City’s historic resources that appear eligible for possible designation as a Structure of Merit, or as a City Landmark following the process outlined in SBMC §22.22.  In some cases, recommendations are also made regarding a grouping of properties that may qualify collectively as a possible Historic District.  A Historic District could contain both contributing and non-contributing resources.  A contributing resource is a building or structure that contributes to the designation of an area as a Historic District. 

The Demolition Review Ordinance (scroll to chapter 22.22) was adopted by City Council on October 26, 2004 to protect the City’s historic resources from demolition and is one component of the City’s Historic Resources Preservation Work Program. The Demolition Review Ordinance requires, under certain limited circumstances, discretionary review of demolition permit applications that propose full or partial demolition of historically significant and potentially significant buildings, but which are not proposing a new development project subsequent to the demolition. The review of structures proposing these types of alterations is limited to properties located within the Demolition Review Study Area.

Administrative regulations have also been created to establish local written standards and a master plan for the completion of future historic resource surveys. A process is established for advising owners of properties identified for listing as potential historic resources that their property is being considered as a potential Historic Resource, and to allow for staff approval of minor alterations to properties on the City’s Potential Historic Resources List.

List of Designated City Landmarks

Landmark Information Sheet

List of Designated Structures of Merit

Structure of Merit Information Sheet