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National Register Listing Follows Local Designation in Spokane pokane's Corbin Park Local Historic District comprises a Scharming collection of architecturally unique homes around an Olmsted-designed city park that was once ahorse- racing track. It is the only residential local historic district in all of Eastern Washington. The idea for a Corbin Park district began in 1988 when an inventory of local resources identified a possible historic dis- trict, and both national and local nominations were consid- ered for Corbin Park. (The district had been placed on the state register in 1980.) Residents were strong-minded about wanting more protection than a national district could offer, however, they were faced with an arduous process to obtain both listings with limited assistance froth city staff. So they first concentrated on the local district nomination since that offered the greatest and most immediate protection. Research gathered for that nomination could then be used to seek place- ment in the National Register of Historic Places. Local district designation is somewhat cumbersome in Spokane, requiring signatures from at least 51 percent of the property owners. Corbin Park residents would not settle for just 51 percent support, however, and they kept canvassing the neighborhood until they obtained signatures from 90 percent of the property owners. Because of the large number of sup- porters for the district, the Spokane Register designation was granted by the city council. The National Register designation came shortly thereafter. Corbin Park residents say that they don't regret the extra effort taken to create the local district and accompanying design guidelines, because they can see the benefits as the neighborhood around them changes and the houses on the park remain intact, thanks to their guidelines. Reflecting back on the two-year process and the choice to become Spokane's only local district, resident Mac McCandless observed, "local register designation has been a tremendous benefit in several ways. First, it has given the district credibility and a voice to the city/county landmarks commission, which serves as liaison to City Hall regarding planning, development and protection. Secondly, it has served as aconsensus-building vehicle among the residents in the district making us a stronger and more close-knit neighborhood. Third, local nomination served as a catalyst to national nomination." - By Teresa L3rum, Spokane CitylCounty Historic Yresereation Director Register district can serve as the basis for designating a local dis- trict, perhaps with boundary lines altered as research, cotnmuniry needs, and local politics dictate. The National Register program is also a credible way to identify a community's historic resources while local district designation can further protect and enhance them. Thus, what the National Register helps to identify, the local district helps to protect. Because the listing process is often less invobed, less bureau- cratic, and less time consuming for a publicly supported local dis- trictthan for a National Register district, local designation may precede National Register activ- ity. An existing local district can provide the basis for a subsequent National Register nomination. The order in which a community pursues designation and whether dual designation is useful varies according to local circumstances. Differences in research required, property owner consent, SHPO and National Park Service con- currence, and costs will all play a role in determining what types of designation are appropriate. Ho 'Are District Bout ary Lines Estahlt~hed? '~ Pr~servatio ~sts, planners, design professionals, lected officials, and neighborho advocates are faced with the ch enge of set- ting boundaries fora vide range of historic;''districts. Hu dreds of question arise when distr is are propos d. Which buil 'ngs shoul be included? Sho ld vacant lots be excluded? What abou pta will distri The lems aref obvious. Solving em can munity m htmare not have a be th a logical prc ess the edges of 's » The visual ~ d character ofaan historic di~,fricts, re hec~me a com- ~, Jut this does t ycase. There is for determining -ic districts. environmental area, especially omes from the ~n natural and man-tm de features That rela- tions p is vital to u erstanding why ne area is differe t, perhaps ev better, than anc her. The it ividualized design o uildings nd landscapes, the se lement patterns of communities, the PRESERVATION BOOKS t contemporary intrusio ? ld a buffer zone surround t e ct? Should National Re~`ster daries and local zoning or ping boundaries differ?E'What appen to the properties in a c after designation?.~~