Historic Preservation
Historic Preservation
The City of Fresno’s Historic Preservation Ordinance was approved by the City Council in 1979 as Article 4, Section 13 of the Fresno Municipal Code. The intent of the Ordinance is “to preserve, promote and improve the historic resources and districts of the City of Fresno for educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public….” The Ordinance also recognizes that historic preservation helps “to establish, stabilize and improve property values and to foster economic development.” (Section 13-401, Historic Preservation Ordinance).
For more information about Fresno's Historic Preservation Program contact:
Karana Hattersley-Drayton
Historic Preservation Project Manager
City of Fresno (559) 621-8520
karana.hattersley-drayton@fresno.gov
Historic Preservation Commission
The City’s Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of seven individuals appointed by the Mayor, who have training and expertise in preservation, architecture, architectural history, engineering and related fields.
The Commission normally meets the 4th Monday of the month at City Hall, Conference Room A at 5:30 pm.
The Commission reviews all nominations to the Local Register of Historic Resources and comments on projects and plans that may affect the City’s historic and cultural heritage.
Environmental Review and Assessment
Both the City’s Historic Preservation Project Manager and the Historic Preservation Commission are required to review and comment on a variety of environmental documents and project entitlements. This review is guided by a series of intersecting laws, ordinances and agreements, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), The City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Historic Resources element of the Fresno 2025 General Plan, and various other specific agreements.
City of Fresno’s Local Register of Historic Resources
The City maintains a Local Register of Historic Resources, which includes buildings, structures, objects, sites and districts that have sufficient integrity and are significant in Fresno’s history. As of July 2006 there are 255 individual listings on the Register including the Fresno Buddhist Temple (#024), the Fresno Memorial Auditorium (#052) and the Rowell Building (#170). Twenty-seven buildings on the Local Register are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These “crown jewels” of the community include local landmarks such as the Old Fresno Water Tower (HP#001), the Thomas R. Meux Home (HP#002) and the Tower Theatre (HP#190). Seven properties are also listed as Heritage Properties. In addition to individual listings Fresno has two designated historic districts, the Porter Tract (near Fresno City College) and the Chandler Airfield/Fresno Municipal Airport. At least twelve other districts have been recommended through surveys or community specific plans. A separate web site lists the entire Register at www.historicfresno.org.
Fresno as a Certified Local Government
Fresno is a Certified Local Government through an agreement with the State Office of Historic Preservation. This agreement allows the City to review and approve most federally-funded projects which may impact Fresno’s historic resources. The Historic Preservation Project Manager serves as the City of Fresno’s CLG Coordinator.
In the News
Other Preservation Groups in Fresno
The Fresno City and County Historical Society was founded in 1919 (www.valleyhistory.org). Other organizations dedicated to planning, history and preservation are listed in a web site maintained by Kevin Enns-Rempel and John Edward Powell: “A Guide to Historic Architecture in Fresno, California” (www.historicfresno.org).
Links
For general information about historic preservation, funding and the State Historic Building Code, visit the California State Office of Historic Preservation website at:
www.ohp.parks.ca.gov.