By Rich Pollack
In Delray Beach, five historically significant properties have been selected for the National Registry of Historic Places, but missing from the list has been the prestigious designation of any of the city’s five locally designated historic districts.
That changed last month, though, when the Florida National Register Review Board gave its approval to the city’s request to include Delray Beach’s Marina Historic District on the registry.
“This is important for us because the Marina District is the first historic district in Delray Beach to be nationally recognized. We’re hopeful that it will bring additional exposure and attention to our preservation efforts,” said Amy Alvarez, the city’s historic preservation planner. “This is the first step in our efforts to have all five of our locally designated historic districts recognized nationally.”
Just south of Atlantic Avenue and west of the Intracoastal Waterway, the city’s Marina Historic District includes a mix of historic homes as well as homes and townhouses built in recent years.
The homes in the district, bordered on the west by Southeast Seventh Avenue and on the south by Southeast Third Street, reflect a variety of historically significant architectural styles. They range from colonial revival to Mediterranean and include cottages, dating back to the 1930s, built by cartoonist Fontaine Fox.
The Marina Historic District is also known for its distinctive subtropical landscape and shady streets all within walking distance of the municipal marina.
To qualify for the National Registry of Historic Places, a district must include homes that are least 50 years old and it also must have historical significance.
First added to the city’s local list of historic districts in 1988, the Marina Historic District was resurveyed in 2008 by an outside historical resources group, which determined it would be eligible for the National Registry and recommended the city apply.
Having the district on the registry, Alvarez says, adds prestige to the community and could have a positive impact on property values.
In addition, income-producing properties in the district would be eligible for tax credits for historic restoration projects.
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