Preserve and protect historic resources, including both designated City landmarks and historic resources which are eligible for state, local, or national listing;

Establish and maintain an open and public process for the designation and maintenance of City landmarks and other historic resources which represent the history of architecture and culture of the City and the nation, and to apply historic preservation standards and guidelines to individual projects fairly and equitably;

Promote economic development in the City through the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, structures, and districts;

Conserve and enhance the physical and natural beauty of Tacoma through the development of policies that protect historically compatible settings for such buildings, places, and districts;

Comply with the state Environmental Policy Act by preserving important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage; and

To promote preservation compatible practices related to cultural, economic and environmental sustainability, including: conservation of resources through retention and enhancement of existing building stock, reduction of impacts to the waste stream resulting from construction activities, promotion of energy conservation, stimulation of job growth in rehabilitation industries, and promotion of Heritage Tourism;

To contribute to a healthy population by encouraging human scale development and preservation activities, including walkable neighborhoods; and

Integrate the historic preservation goals of the state Growth Management Act and the goals and objectives set forth in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and regulatory language.

Tacoma Register of Historic Places is established. In order to meet the purposes of this chapter and Chapter 1.42 of the TMC, there is hereby established the Tacoma Register of Historic Places. Historic resources and districts designated to this Register pursuant to the procedures and criteria listed in this chapter are subject to the controls and protections of the Landmarks Preservation Commission established by TMC Chapter 1.42 and pursuant to the design review provisions of this chapter.

Criteria for the designation to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places.

Special criteria for the designation of Historic Special Review Districts and Conservation Districts. The City Council may find it appropriate to create Historic Special Review or Conservation Districts for the purposes of encouraging the preservation of character within established neighborhoods and districts, protecting such areas from adverse effects to their cultural and historic assets resulting from unsympathetic development activities, and for the purpose of promoting economic development and neighborhood identity.

Process for the nomination of individual properties, generally.

Landmarks Preservation Commission preliminary meeting on nomination.

Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting on nomination.

City Council review of designation.

The City Council, Landmarks Preservation Commission, or the owner of property listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places may request removal of said property from the Register.

Such a request shall be made in writing to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and shall include a statement of the basis for removal from the Register, based on the following criteria:

The Landmarks Preservation Commission may itself also request removal of a property from the Historic Register in instances where:

When a request for removal from the Historic Register is received, or when the Landmarks Preservation Commission resolves to request removal of a property from the Historic Register, the Commission shall:

Procedures for the nomination of Historic Special Review Districts and Conservation Districts, generally.

District designation – Landmarks Preservation Commission.

District designation – Planning Commission.

District designation – City Council.

The City Council may request to amend or rescind the designation of a Historic Special Review District or Conservation District pursuant to the same procedure as set forth in this chapter and Section 13.05.030B for original designation and area-wide rezones. Amendments or de-designations that are requested by Council shall be transmitted to Council for final determination.

Community Heritage Register is established. To provide an avenue for recognizing historically and culturally significant sites that may not meet the designation criteria for the Tacoma Register of Historic Places or for which design review is not appropriate, there is hereby established the Community Heritage Register. The purpose of the Community Heritage Register is to highlight, celebrate and commemorate locations of community importance. Sites designated to the Community Heritage Register are exempt from any controls and protections of the Landmarks Preservation Commission established by TMC § 13.05.040 or to the design review provisions of this chapter. Generally, sites that are listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, or the National Register of Historic Places, are not appropriate for the Community Heritage Register.

Criteria for the designation to the Community Heritage Register. The Commission may determine that a site is eligible for consideration for listing on the Community Heritage Register if it is at least 25 years old at the time of nomination and:

Process for the nomination of sites, generally.

Landmarks Preservation Commission preliminary meeting on nomination.

Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting on nomination.

City Council review of designation.

Community Heritage Sites – Management.

The Commission shall adopt and maintain a Rules of Procedure document that provides for the following:

Historic District inventories. The Commission shall adopt and maintain historic building inventories for buildings within Historic Special Review Districts that identify “Contributing” and “Non Contributing” properties. Architectural integrity, as it relates to materials, space, and composition in various periods of architecture, shall be respected and, to the extent possible, maintained in contributing properties. Historic. The absence of a property on a historic inventory shall not preclude the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s authority to review changes to such a property. If a property is not listed on the historic inventory for the district, the property shall be assumed to be contributing.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission shall use the following as guidelines when evaluating the appropriateness of alterations to properties listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, excepting applications for demolition:

Intent and applicability.

The structure is threatened by further deterioration or loss in its present location.

All alternatives to relocation have been reasonably considered.

The original building and site condition will be accurately recorded before removing the structure from the existing site.

Moving procedures are sufficiently planned to protect the key features of the structure.

The relocation site provides an appropriate context similar to that of the original.

A commitment is in place to complete the relocation and subsequent rehabilitation of the building.

There is adequate protection to assure continued preservation of the building at its relocated site.

The reasonableness of any alternatives to demolition that have been considered and rejected, that may meet the stated objectives of the applicant;

The physical, architectural, or historic integrity of the structure in terms of its ability to convey its significance, but not including any damage or loss of integrity that may be attributable to willful neglect;

The importance of the building to the character and integrity of the surrounding district; and

Any public or expert commentary received during the course of the public comment and peer review periods.

Economic hardship. A City Landmark may be demolished if the Landmarks Preservation Commission finds, pursuant to the Criteria for Economic Hardship located in TMC § 13.05.040D, that maintenance, use and/or alteration of the resource in accordance with the requirements of this chapter would cause immediate and substantial hardship on the property owner(s) because of rehabilitation in a manner which preserves the historic integrity of the resource:

Design guidelines.

Amending the design guidelines.

District exemptions. The following actions within historic districts are exempt from the requirements imposed pursuant to this chapter:

In order that the Old City Hall area and buildings within the area may not be injuriously affected; to promote the public welfare; and to provide for the enhancement of this area and its structures, thereby contributing to the social, cultural, and economic welfare of the citizens of Tacoma by developing an awareness of its historic heritage, returning unproductive structures to useful purposes, and attracting visitors to the City; and in order that a reasonable degree of control may be exercised over the site, development, and architecture of the private and public buildings erected therein, there is hereby created the Old City Hall Historic Special Review District, the boundaries of which are more particularly described in Section 13.07.120 hereof.

Said district and the buildings and structures therein possess significant aspects of early Tacoma history, architecture, and culture. Historic, cultural, and architectural significance is reflected in the architectural cohesiveness of the area. For the foregoing reasons, many of the features contained in the buildings and structures in said district should be maintained and preserved.

The area encompassed by the Old City Hall Historic Special Review District has played a significant role in the development of the City of Tacoma, the Puget Sound region, and the state of Washington. The district was the location of the early governmental and commercial center of the City. The focus of commerce and transportation was located in this district.

The Old City Hall Historic Special Review District is associated with the lives of many Tacoma pioneers through property, business, and commercial activities which were concentrated in the area.

Many buildings within the Old City Hall Historic Special Review District embody distinctive characteristics of late 19th Century Eclectic architecture, which reflects Greco-Roman and Renaissance architectural influences. For these and other reasons, the buildings and structures combine to create an outstanding example of an area of Tacoma which is significant and distinguishable in style, form, character, and construction representative of its era.

The restoration and preservation of objects, sites, buildings, and structures within the Old City Hall Historic Special Review District will yield information of educational significance regarding the way of life and the architecture of the late 19th century, as well as add interest and color to the City. Restoration of the Old City Hall Historic Special Review District will preserve the environment which was characteristic of an important era of Tacoma’s history, and will be considerably more meaningful and significant educationally than if done on the basis of individual isolated buildings and structures.

Any alterations to non-contributing properties as defined by the District Inventory adopted by the Commission and kept on file at the Historic Preservation Office; provided, that the demolition of such structures is not exempt from the provisions of this chapter; and

Interior alterations to existing properties, unless those modifications affect the exterior appearance of the property.

The area encompassed by the Union Depot/Warehouse Historic Special Review District has played a significant role in the development of the City of Tacoma, the Puget Sound region, and the state of Washington. The district was the location of the early railroad, industrial, and commercial center of the City. The focus of early manufacture and commerce was identified with this district.

The Union Depot/Warehouse Historic Special Review District is associated with the lives of many Tacoma pioneers through property, railroad, and commercial activities which were concentrated in the area. Many of the buildings within the Union Depot/Warehouse Historic Special Review District embody the distinctive characteristics of the late 19th and early 20th century Eclectic architecture, which reflects Greco-Roman, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural influences. For these and other reasons, the buildings and structures combine to create an outstanding example of a historic district in Tacoma dating from circa 1887–1930, which is significant and distinguishable in style, form, character, and construction representative of its era.

Restoration and preservation of objects, sites, buildings, and structures within the Union Depot/Warehouse Historic Special Review District will yield information of educational significance regarding the way of life and the architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as add interest and color to the City. Restoration of the Union Depot/Warehouse Historic Special Review District will preserve the sense of place and time and the environment which was characteristic of an important era of Tacoma’s history, and such district planning will be considerably more meaningful and significant educationally than if done on the basis of individual isolated buildings and structures.

In order that the North Slope Neighborhood and buildings within the Neighborhood may not be injuriously affected; to promote the public welfare; to provide for the enhancement of the North Slope Neighborhood and its structures, thereby contributing to the social, cultural, and economic welfare of the citizens of Tacoma by developing an awareness of Tacoma’s historic heritage, maintaining productive and useful structures, and attracting visitors to the City; and in order that a reasonable degree of control may be exercised over the siting, development and architecture of public and private buildings erected in the North Slope Neighborhood so that the goals set forth in this section and in this chapter may be realized, there is hereby created the North Slope Historic Special Review District, the boundaries of which are more particularly described in Section 13.07.240 hereof.

The North Slope Neighborhood and the buildings therein reflect significant aspects of Tacoma’s early history, architecture, and culture. Such historic, architectural, and cultural significance is also reflected in the architectural cohesiveness of the neighborhood. For the foregoing reasons, many of the features contained in the buildings and structures in the Neighborhood should be maintained and preserved.

Except where specifically exempted by TMC § 13.07.095 and TMC § 13.07.250, all visible alterations and construction within the historic district boundaries, including alterations to elements and spaces within the public right of way, are subject to the review and approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission prior to the initiation of work.

Role in the development of Tacoma. The area north of Division Avenue from the bluff to Sprague Street was one of several residential neighborhoods that developed after Tacoma was selected to be the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. New Tacoma and the North End were considered to be a desirable place to live, near downtown Tacoma. The community was settled irregularly over its history in a fairly dense residential pattern, and it is common to find structures from the late 1800s next to houses built in the 1930s.

Association with Tacoma pioneers, property, business and commercial activities. The New Tacoma and North End community is predominantly residential, although there are scattered pockets of small commercial buildings that served the community. These commercial buildings are concentrated mostly along Division Avenue and K Street. The residents of the community represented a complete cross-section of different classes and occupations, from a United States ambassador to France to a Slovakian boat builder.

Architectural characteristics. The architectural characteristics of the New Tacoma and North End community are variable, although there is a remarkable number of architect-designed houses in the neighborhood. Most homes built in the earliest period of growth from 1880 to the crash in 1893 were Queen Anne and Stick style houses, of both modest and grand proportions. After the turn of the century, more Craftsman and bungalow-style houses were built, as well as a few Colonial Revival structures. Those homes built after the turn of the century tended to be larger and more impressive, until the late 1920s when many one-story bungalows were built. After the Great Depression, another building boom took place in the neighborhood, with considerably smaller brick residences constructed in simple forms, and two- or three-story multi-unit apartment complexes.

Educational uses and preservation of the area’s heritage. Restoration and preservation of objects, sites, buildings, and structures within the North Slope Neighborhood will yield information of educational significance about the way of life of Tacoma’s citizens, and the architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and will add interest and color to the City. Maintaining this neighborhood as a whole will preserve the sense of time, place, and the environment which formed an important characteristic of Tacoma’s history. District-wide planning will be considerably more meaningful and educationally significant than if done on the basis of individual, isolated buildings.

Any alterations to non-contributing properties as defined by the District Inventory adopted by the Commission and kept on file at the Historic Preservation Office; provided, that modifications to accessory structures and the demolition of noncontributing or accessory structures are not exempt from the provisions of this chapter;

Interior modifications to existing structures, unless those modifications affect the exterior appearance of the structure;

Any alterations to private residential structures that are specifically exempted from permit requirements in the Residential Building Code as adopted by the City (such as painting and minor repairs such as caulking or weather-stripping);

The installation, alteration, or repair of public and private plumbing, sewer, water, and gas piping systems, where no Right of Way restoration is required;

The installation, alteration, or repair of public and private electrical, telephone, and cable television wiring systems, provided that the installation of solar panels, wind generators, and cellular antenna towers is not exempt;

The landscaping of private residences;

The maintenance of existing parking conditions and configurations, including curb cuts, driveways, alleys, and parking lots (new installations are subject to review by the Commission);

Signs not exceeding the limitations for a home occupation permit and those installed by the City for directional and locational purposes.

The following types of projects within the public rights of way: ADA accessibility ramps and installations, in-road work, traffic signaling equipment, utility markers, and equipment required by the United States Postal Service.

In order that the Wedge neighborhood and residential buildings within the neighborhood may not be injuriously affected; to promote the public welfare; to provide for the enhancement of the Wedge neighborhood and its residential structures, thereby contributing to the social, cultural, and economic welfare of the citizens of Tacoma by developing an awareness of Tacoma’s historic neighborhoods, maintaining productive and useful residential structures, and attracting visitors to the City; and in order that a reasonable degree of control may be exercised over the siting, development and architecture of public and private buildings erected in the Wedge neighborhood so that the goals set forth in this section and in this chapter may be realized, there is hereby created the Wedge Historic Special Review District and the Wedge Conservation Special Review District, the boundaries of which are more particularly described in Sections 13.07.280 and 13.07.290 TMC hereof.

The Wedge neighborhood and the residential buildings therein reflect significant aspects of Tacoma’s early neighborhood history, architecture, and culture. Such historic, architectural, and cultural significance is also reflected in the architectural cohesiveness of the neighborhood. For the foregoing reasons, many of the features contained in the buildings and structures in the neighborhood should be maintained and preserved.

The Wedge Conservation District areas are established in order to encourage new development on the boundaries of the Historic District that is aesthetically and architecturally compatible with the character of the Wedge neighborhood. It is acknowledged that these are primarily commercial areas, and it is anticipated that commercial growth will occur in these areas. However, where there are historically significant structures within the Conservation District, this chapter encourages that these buildings be retained.

Except where specifically exempted by TMC § 13.07.300, all exterior alterations and construction within the historic and conservation district boundaries, including alterations to elements and spaces within the public rights-of-way, are subject to the review and approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission prior to the initiation of work.

The Wedge Historic and Conservation Districts are evocative of the broad patterns of Tacoma’s history. A middle class district that was constructed by some of Tacoma’s most prolific builders, and occupied by famous and anonymous residents alike, the Wedge’s development as a neighborhood mirrors that of Tacoma as a historic city.

Historically significant persons who lived in the Wedge Historic district include Silas Nelsen, Aaron Titlow, and Frank and Ethel Mars. Other notable persons who lived in the Wedge Historic District include doctors, attorneys, architects and contractors, engineers, politicians, jewelers, barbers, school, bank, real estate, and insurance personnel as well as seamen, railroad, and shipping and electric company employees.

The Wedge Historic District is an intact middle-class residential district reflecting a period of neighborhood development from Tacoma’s early history until after WWI. Although there are a number of notable homes within the district, most appear to be modest builder interpretations of established architectural styles and forms. Several of these provide good examples of typical residential architects.

The Wedge Historic District is adjacent to the North Slope Historic District and is part of a larger section of the City where historic development patterns prevail (including Wright Park, South J Street historic houses).

Any alterations to noncontributing properties within the Wedge Historic Special Review Districts, as defined by the District Inventory adopted by the Commission and kept on file at the Historic Preservation Office and any alterations to properties within the designated Conservation District, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter; provided, that alterations to accessory structures within the Historic District and the demolition of any structures in the Historic District and Conservation District, including noncontributing and accessory structures or the construction of new buildings, are not exempt from the provisions of this chapter;

Historically nonresidential and commercial use structures; provided, that the demolition of noncontributing or accessory structures is not exempt from the provisions of this chapter;

Interior modifications to existing structures, unless those modifications affect the exterior appearance of the structure;

Changes to the exteriors of contributing structures that are not visible from adjacent public rights-of-way may be granted an administrative Certificate of Approval by the Historic Preservation Officer, provided that staff is able to determine that the proposed project is consistent with the district design guidelines and applicable Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, all without prejudice to the right of the owner at any time to apply directly to the Commission for its consideration and action on such matters;

Any alterations to private residential structures that are specifically exempted from permit requirements in the Residential Building Code as adopted by the City (such as painting and minor repairs such as caulking or weather-stripping);

The installation, alteration, or repair of public and private plumbing, sewer, water, and gas piping systems, where no right-of-way restoration is required;

The installation, alteration, or repair of public and private electrical, telephone, and cable television wiring systems; provided that the installation of solar panels, wind generators, and cellular antenna towers is not exempt;

The landscaping of private residences;

The maintenance of existing parking conditions and configurations, including curb cuts, driveways, alleys, and parking lots (new installations are subject to review by the Commission);

Signs not exceeding the limitations for a home occupation permit and those installed by the City for directional and locational purposes;

The following types of projects within the public rights-of-way: ADA accessibility ramps and installations, in-road work, traffic-signaling equipment, utility markers, and equipment required by the United States Postal Service.