As you may be aware, from prior correspondence, the City of Fort Madison and its Historic Preservation Commission (FMHPC), conducted a survey of historic resources throughout the city. This survey led to the identification of a potential historic district called “Park-to-Park” for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Your FMHPC has been actively working for the last 6 months to prepare this historic district’s National Register nomination and are proud to announce we are in the final approval phases.
This information is being provided to notify you of the final steps of that process and invite residents in the proposed historic district to a public meeting at 7:00 pm, May 7, 2014, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 605 Avenue E, in Fort Madison, where any questions about the nomination will be answered. Hosting this meeting is a requirement of being a Certified Local Government (CLG), and fulfills the FMHPC’s role of being the public voice for preservation in our community of Fort Madison.
The FMHPC, working with the State Historical Society of Iowa, will bring forward a nomination of the Park-to-Park Historic District at the State Nominations Review Committee (SNRC) meeting on June 13, 2014. This district is in the residential neighborhood just north of the existing Downtown Commercial Historic District, which was listed in the National Register in 2006. The proposed new district, is anchored by Old Settlers Park and Central Park, and is roughly bounded on the south by Avenue F, on the west by 11th/12th Streets, on the north by Avenue E, and on the east by 4th Street. After the SNRC, the nomination can move on to the National Park Service for final approval and listing.
Should you wish to view the nomination, a hard copy will be available at the meeting, or you may view a copy at Fort Madison City Hall, 811 Avenue E or at the Fort Madison Public Library, 1920 Avenue E.
National Register designation recognizes historic significance. It imposes no restrictions on your property.
In the coming months, the State Historical Society of Iowa will also notify all property owners within the pending National Register district of the nomination. The number of residents who are in favor of, opposed to, or not commenting on this proposed listing will be considered by the State National Register Committee when they evaluate the nomination.