News

Owosso Council to consider historic study committee

By MICHAEL PETERSON, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Friday, November 13, 2009 10:03 AM EST

OWOSSO - The City Council will vote Monday during its upcoming meeting whether to appoint a historic district study committee.

If approved, it would be the first step in implementing a historic district for downtown Owosso.

The Owosso Main Street Board voted unanimously at its Nov. 4 meeting to recommend the committee be formed. However, Owosso Main Street manager Natalie Burg said the study could be used for initiatives other than a historic district.

“This is a Michigan above-ground survey, which is the same kind of survey that you could use for general local planning needs, an environmental review, certified local government status, historic tourism initiatives and it also just creates a permanent record for the city,” Burg said.

An informational meeting detailing the ins and outs of becoming a historic district took place Oct. 29 at the Shiawassee Arts Center. Officials from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network and the State Historic Preservation Office talked about the city's options of either having a local historic district or having areas placed on the national register of historic places.

A national registry can include either an individual listing or an entire district. To be eligible, a resource has to be at least 50 years old and must possess historical significance. However, a national registry does not protect a building from demolition or alterations - unless federal funds are involved. A local historic district, however, does provide legal protection of buildings within the district.

Different tax credits are available through each type of designation as well. Federal tax credits are tied to national registers, while local historic districts are tied to state tax credits.

Burg said the study committee would be formed with the intention to form a local historic district.

“In our discussion at the meeting, the Board members in attendance felt that what they learned (at the informational meeting) indicated that there are greater benefits to the downtown properties and to the economic development with a local historic district,” she said.

Who will be appointed to the study committee is up to the City Council, but Burg said the State Historic Preservation Office recommends that study committee members should have a background in historic preservation and/or architecture.

“We are also asking that they create an application process similar to how they did when they created the Blue Ribbon Committee,” Burg said. “The Council would then go through those applications and then select the candidates.”

- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpeterson@argus-press.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.

Comment on this Story

CjP wrote on Nov 15, 2009 8:08 PM:

" On the contrary, dear "Citizen". I'd like to see the leadership take action to look forward with solid plans for improvements, rather than to keep throwing money into short term deals that attempt to patch problems for a short term. That philospohy of patching short term problems is what has gotten the area into the sorry situation that it is, today, and will only worsten the situation.

The leadsership needs to look forward, develop a competitive plan, and attack it, now. "

CjP wrote on Nov 15, 2009 8:11 AM:

" Doesn't the City Limits delineate a taxing boundary? Do township residents pay taxes for the city of Owosso funding, or only for allocation at the township/county levels? I'm not clear on that. "

citizen wrote on Nov 15, 2009 7:10 AM:

" For goodness sakes, it is the negative attitude from people such as yourselves that drives people out of this town. What a bunch of downers!

Business owners and home owners receive tax credits when there is an established historical district. If business owners get a tax credit, they may be able to afford to hire another employee. If home owners get the tax credit, it eases their finances in a tough economy. It's not that difficult to understand. "

A NEW CHARTER wrote on Nov 14, 2009 11:00 AM:

" Does anyone not get what is happening? Only the city limits of Owosso matter. No one in any other township matters. You have your own leadership. Owosso is segregated. A Mayor of a town is for the WHOLE town and not just city limits. Anyone who lives outside the city limits has no say upon what goes on inside the city limits. And the townships and the city council are just now learning that they must talk to each other and get things down. Go read up on the history and you will learn somthing. Owosso is ALL the people, not within the city limits. Don't let any law take away your rights. The City-Manager Charter means the Manager is in charge, not the mayor. And this is how sneaky deals are made. "

observer wrote on Nov 13, 2009 11:06 PM:

" New faces in charge? Sounds like the same old good old boy agenda, no common sense issues to be addressed, just the "same old same old". Sorry to see common sense values go down the drain in Owosso. Seems like the folks elected to look out for the interest of the city would try and address more important issues and bring back common sense before that becomes part of the city's "history". Just what are your priorities "new council"? "

CjP wrote on Nov 13, 2009 4:44 PM:

" Oh great. We can have an historical ghost town, along with its historical public swimming pool. I'm certain that another empty Michigan village will draw all sorts of tourists, business, and new population to it.

Will the good citizens of Owosso (what is left of them) prefer to provide some short term federal/state grants and/or tax credits to a bunch of old buildings, or would they prefer to work on a plan that would provide incentives to bring commerce/jobs into the area?

In today's economic environment, cities must recognize that they must COMPETE for their livelihood and not merely rely upon completing government grant forms. "