Preserving historic buildings

BELEN — Being a county rich in history, there are many local places that can qualify to be put on the state historic registry and the process to do so may be more attainable than you think.

At a workshop held Saturday, May 4, folks from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division led a presentation at Belen Public Library about how to register a historic building and what qualifies.

They also discussed benefits it could bring, including tax-incentive programs for property owners looking to make restorations.

This presentation served as the final workshop in a series sponsored by the Belen Creative Industries Initiative, which aims to increase economic returns on creative industries in Belen by supporting local artists and creative industries.

NMHPD representative Steven Moffson explained the National Historic Register is a federal program operated by the National Park Service, which then delegates management to the states.

“We have two registers. We’ll be talking more about the state register, but really the criteria for listing in one is the same as the other, so it’s good to think of it as the same,” Moffson said. “So when I say national register, I’m also talking about the state register.”

To be eligible, a property has to be at least 50 years of age and must maintain its historic appearance to be listed.

If one is seeking to list multiple buildings as a historic district, maintaining the historic integrity only applies to the exterior of the buildings, primarily on the main front facade, Moffson said. However, if you’re listing an individual building, the historic appearance must be maintained in the exterior and interior.

To be listed on the register, the property should be significant for historic events or be associated with an important historical figure. Moffson said property can also be eligible if it is significant for its archaeology which is plentiful in New Mexico.

“And then the most common criteria that we use to list properties is that they’re significant as an important example of style of a type of architecture,” he said.

Moffson said the historic register can also include structures like bridges and dams, as well as objects, such as free standing sculptures and funerary monuments. Commercial downtowns, ranches and farms can be considered historic districts, too.

“The most important thing to remember about the National Register of Historic Places is that it takes this idea of places very seriously,” he said. “In fact, when we list a property, we’re not technically listing a property; we’re listing geography. So buildings that are removed from their historic location are very seldom eligible for the national register.”

Moffson said the historic register does not restrict what private property owners do to their property.

“Unless you avail yourself to tax credits, you are free to do whatever you wish with your property, including demolishing it,” he said. “The National Register understands that it’s not going to be successful in enlisting a lot of historic properties if they’re going to start dictating at the micro level what people do with the property.”

“Restrictions do exist, usually at the local level,” Moffson continued. “That’s where communities can landmark buildings and they can pass their own zoning ordinances, but that doesn’t happen at the state or the national level.”

Visit nmhistoricpreservation.org to learn more about the historic register and how to list your property.

To begin the process of listing a property, Moffson said to email him and that his contact information can also be found on the website.

NMHPD representative Matt Saionz then explained how a property owner seeking to rehabilitate a historic property or make restorations can receive tax credits through the state income tax program.

“A tax credit offsets the amount of income tax owed at the end of any tax year. There’s a 50 percent tax credit for owners of historic buildings listed in the state register who complete qualified, pre-approved rehabilitations,” he said. “This is completely voluntary, so if you decide to do it there are preservation standards that come into play.”

To learn more about the tax incentive program, visit nmhistoricpreservation.org.

Artist Bob Dorsey, who is establishing Silver-Bar Studio on Becker Avenue in Belen with his wife, Katy Raven Hernandez Dorsey, also an artist, shared how they are renovating the historic property built in the 1930s.

Renovations have included painting realistic bricks on the exterior and repainting the awning. Dorsey said they were also awarded a $1,500 grant through the Belen MainStreet Partnership, which they used to put up signage and do more painting.

They also did major ceiling renovations and are currently working on installing up-to-date plumbing.

To conclude the event, Tsailii Rogers discussed the status of the historic Oñate Theater — a treasured landmark in Belen.

Rogers is part of the family who purchased the property and is helping to develop it. She said her brother began renovating the old movie theater and most recently a restaurant, and has been working on it every so often as a side project.

Rogers said the age of the property has been a challenge to navigate during renovation. The old plumbing in particular is proving to be a costly undertaking, and this is what she heard her brother is working on most recently.

Rogers said they are hoping to preserve the historic look of the theater, especially considering that is what the community wants, and she hopes they can pursue grant funding to help move the project along.

“We want it to be a multi-generational community where people can come and feel welcome and safe and they can explore workshops, but also the traditional theater experience,” she said.