Historic Preservation Program A Boost For Business, Community

Artistic attraction is sometimes related to historic relevance. The interest in facades changes from stone mortar to hewn timber, then to framed and painted. The attraction continues when it shows a connection with the early years of a community.

That is what started Sidney on an effort to preserve the historic appearance of downtown.

The City of Sidney established its Historic Preservation Program in 2005 and 2006. According to the Sidney Historic Preservation handbook, the program started “because the Sidney community values its traditional heritage, older neighborhoods and cultural resources.” The booklet goes on to say that the community is able to translate its values into economic assets by supporting and encouraging the preservation of Sidney’s historic buildings and enhancement of its traditional neighborhood character.

The Sidney Historic Preservation ordinance is an enabling code for the Sidney’s Historic Preservation Guidelines and the historic review process. Historic Review is when the Historic Preservation Board reviews a proposed improvement project with an applicable historic building to determine if the proposal complies with the guidelines. The board may approve, approve with modification, deny or deter an application.

Qualifying buildings must be located in the Downtown Sidney Historic District, or located outside of the district, but historically significant and used for commercial purposes. A Facade Enhancement Grant is for enhancement of the appearance on the street-facing face and can include windows, canopies or awnings and decorative features. A Signage Incentive Grant is for projects that are “well designed, high quality, building appropriate that may include new signs, signage brackets, exterior lighting and awning with sign.

Applications for Historic Review are available online at http://www.cityofsidney.org/ or by contacting the Historic Preservation Board director Greg Huck.