Delray Beach has five historic districts, where the architecture is protected in order to maintain Delray Beach’s character: Nassau Park, east of the Intracoastal Waterway; Old School Square, the initial footprint of the town; the Del-Ida Park District, the city’s first planned subdivision; West Settlers District, north of Old School Square; and the Marina Historic District on the Intracoastal.
A property is considered historic by the city of Delray Beach if it is at least 50 years old and holds significance for its historical associations with a person, event or trend in local, state or national history, or for its distinguished architectural merits, including unique craftsmanship, materials, artistic value or its status as the work of an architectural master.
Outside of the historic districts, there are also homes that have been individually designated, like Virginia Courtney’s home at 212 Seabreeze, the Sewell C. Biggs House, designed by noted mid-century architect Paul Rudolph in 1955.
When a homeowner renovates a designated property, Delray Beach’s Historic Preservation Board reviews and evaluates the exterior alterations or additions to the historic structure to ensure that it retains its historical and architectural integrity.
“We look at everything, from paint colors to the type of siding that you are going to use to both large additions and new construction,” says Amy Alvarez, Delray Beach’s Historic Preservation planner.
To encourage people to improve their older homes in designated neighborhoods, the city of Delray Beach offers incentives. First of all, there are county and city tax advantages, Alvarez points out. “For historic properties, the city offers a 10-year tax exemption based on the increased value that comes about from the interior and exterior improvements.
“In addition, the city tries to accommodate homeowners by providing relief to setback requirements.”
Alvarez would like people to take advantage of these benefits. “Studies have shown that the economic impacts of historic preservation are positive.” Only about a dozen people have taken advantage of them since they became available in 1996, she said.
Recent news:
In November 2008, Delray Beach was designated a Preserve America Community. “It’s a White House initiative and Delray Beach is the first in the county to receive it,” Alvarez said.
In April 2009, the Nassau Historic District, originally designated in 1988 with a Period of Significance through 1943, was re-designated to extend the Period of Significance to acknowledge newer structures up to 1964. The Marina and West Settlers Historic Districts have also been re-designated.
— Christine Davis
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