Historic District
CANTON DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
ADDED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
The center of downtown Canton has been designated a historic district and has been added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior effective June 7, 2006. The official name of the new district is the Upper Downtown Canton Historic District. Approximately 30 city blocks are included in the new district. The designation was determined by conducting a survey of historic and architecturally significant buildings in the center city. Sandvick Architects of Cleveland was commissioned by the Downtown Canton Land Bank to perform the survey because of their knowledge and experience in historic preservation, restoration, and renovation. The street boundaries of the district generally comprise 2nd Street South to 6th Street North and Walnut Avenue Northeast to Dewalt Avenue Northwest. According to the study, there are approximately 89 buildings in the district, of which, 59 are noted as contributing buildings or ones that have historical significance. One of the benefits of a historic district is that owners of buildings will not have to apply individually to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and incur the expense associated with this process.
SOME OWNERS MAY QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS
According to Michael P. Gill, Director of the Canton Development Partnership, “ in addition to the honor of listing on the National Register, owners of qualifying income-producing buildings may be eligible for a federal investment tax credit. “ Tax credits provide an incentive to renovate qualifying buildings by returning a very significant portion of the constructions costs to the owner. Gill believes that historic designation will give another economic boost to our downtown by providing the next wave of capital investments downtown. This benefit will be in addition to the substantial capital investments witnessed over the past 3-5 years. The Canton Development Partnership will be organizing an information session for interested parties to discuss the historic district and the process for applying for tax credits in the near future. Gill, “ cautions that it is important that people learn about the credit and how to qualify for it first, before undertaking the work. Interested parties may call the Canton Development Partnership at 3304560468 or the Ohio Historic Preservation Office at 614-298-2000.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL REGISTER
The National Register lists places which should be preserved because of their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology. engineering, and culture. It includes buildings, sites, structures, objects, and historical districts of national, state, and local importance. National Register listing often raises awareness of a property. However, listing does not obligate owners to repair or improve their properties and does not prevent them from remodeling, altering, selling or even demolishing them if they choose to do so. In Ohio anyone may prepare a National Register nomination. Nominations are made through the Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society. Proposed Nominations are reviewed by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board, a governor-appointed panel of citizens and professionals in history, architecture, archaeology, and related fields. The board reviews each nomination to see whether it appears to be eligible for listing on the National Register, then makes a recommendation to the State Historic Preservation Officer. The final decision to add a property to the National Register is made by the National Park Service, which administers the program nationwide.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office is Ohio’s official historic preservation agency. A part of the Ohio Historical Society, it identifies historic places in Ohio, nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally-assisted projects for effects on historic, architectural, and archaeological resources in Ohio, consults on the conservation of older buildings and sites, and offers educational programs and publications.
