PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 13, 2009) – On
Feb. 17, the Peoria City Council is expected to designate the Peoria Central
School as the city’s first Peoria Local Historic Landmark. The new program,
which recognizes historically-significant structures within the city, is
currently considering four applications for this designation.
“Peoria has a rich history and is
very proud of its roots” says Community Development Director Glen Van Nimwegen.
“We encourage Peoria property owners to strongly consider this designation for
their potentially historic buildings.”
Peoria Central School was thought to
be too big when it first opened in 1906. This two-room building served the
community as a school for 70 years and is now home to the Peoria Arizona
Historical Society Museum.
The city is currently processing
applications to designate three other buildings as Peoria Local Historic
Landmarks:
(1) Peoria Woman’s Club – March 3 City Council meeting;
(2) Peoria Jail House – April 7 City Council meeting
(3) Peoria Presbyterian Church – April 7 City Council meeting.
Along with the designation, these
structures will have a Historic Preservation Overlay Zoning. The overlay only
affects the building’s footprint; it acts to preserve and protect the historic
character of the property but does not affect the underlying base-zoning of the
property. For example, these structures would need to be approved by the
Historic Preservation Committee for any exterior alteration, restoration,
reconstruction, demolition, new construction, and for any material change in the
appearance.
For more information, or
to consider a Peoria structure for this designation, contact Melissa Sigmund at
(623) 773-7603.
###
