PROSPERITY — Mike Bedenbaugh, director of The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation, discussed historic designation at the Newberry County Governmental Association meeting Monday night.

“Before considering historic designation, you must know what you have and conduct a survey to identify your historic resources,” Bedenbaugh said.

The meeting was hosted by the Town of Prosperity.

One of the common problems Bedenbaugh said he has faced when going to different places is the assumption that for something to be historic something great had to happen there.

“It’s just about what type of contribution a building or a place contributes to the communities memory and to the society,” Bedenbaugh said. “It’s all about the context of the community and the knowledge that the community has.”

Bedenbaugh stressed that historic places are assets and serve as benefits to communities. Benefits of historic places include maintaining investment, having links to the past, attracting tourism and contributing to economic and community development.

“Historic designation can be a tool for realizing these benefits. Change is occurring all across South Carolina and historic designation is a tool that can help manage that change,” he said.

Bedenbaugh presented two different types of historic designation: National Register of Historic Places and Local Government Historic Designation.

The National Register of Historic Places, said to be one of the most misunderstood, was created by Act of Congress in 1966 and includes over 1,300 listings in South Carolina, with over 160 historic districts.

“To be eligible for The National Register of Historic Places it has to be at least 50 years old, show significance for association with important people, events, trends and/or significant for architectural design of craftsmanship and possess integrity of materials and design,” said Bedenbaugh.

To be listed on The National Register of Historic Places is an “honorary” status and does not regulate what owners do with their property after listing.

“The key is, it provides incentives to preserve and maintain through the form of tax credits and grants. They are available to folks who choose to utilize it,” Bedenbaugh said.

Local Government Historic Designation is started by adopting a preservation ordinance, which allows the historic designation over homes and overlays, sets standards and requires approval of changes of properties within the historic district and creates a board of architectural review.

“Capital likes predictability. If they’re going to invest in something, they will want to know that what they are investing in is a stable investment,” said Bedenbaugh.

Bedenbaugh also presented private incentives under Local Government Historic Designation, including the Bailey Bill and tax credits.

“The Bailey Bill was designed by South Carolina Legislature that allows local municipalities as well as counties to freeze property tax levels for historic properties. This act can have frozen property taxes for 20 years,” said Bedenbaugh.

Palmetto Trust was formed in 1990 and is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission to to preserve, protect, and advocate for South Carolina’s endangered historic structures.

Other business:

• City of Newberry City Manager Matt DeWitt presented the Treasurer’s Report. DeWitt reported that two checks were written since the last meeting for the American Legion Scholarship Achievement for $330, bringing the balance to $3,478.09 against a beginning balance of 4,138.09.

Newberry Mayor Foster Senn speaks with County Council member Harriett Rucker.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Government1.jpgNewberry Mayor Foster Senn speaks with County Council member Harriett Rucker. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

Prosperity Mayor Derek Underwood speaks with Newberry City Manager Matt DeWitt.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Government2.jpgProsperity Mayor Derek Underwood speaks with Newberry City Manager Matt DeWitt. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.