Mixed emotions persist over naming of historic district

Afsha Bawany

Friday, June 20, 2003 | 9:23 a.m.

Las Vegas' first designated historic district now has the blessing of the National Register of Historic Places.

But not all residents of the John S. Park Historic District feel blessed.

The State Historic Preservation Office announced Thursday that the district, bounded by Charleston and Las Vegas boulevards, Franklin Avenue and South Ninth Street, was added to the National Register.

That puts the neighborhood of about 160 homes in the company of landmarks such as the Boston Common, the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington, Va., and the Golden Gate Park Conservatory in San Francisco.

The designation doesn't change anything for the homeowners in the neighborhood. Local zoning and building codes remain the same, city and state officials said. However, the stamp of approval from the National Register adds a cachet.

"History is the kind of commodity that increases in value over time," said Ronald James, a spokesman for the State Historic Preservation Office.

"Las Vegas is reaching a point where its history is becoming apparent and has the potential of mattering."

But some of John S. Park's residents aren't so sure the label is that attractive.

John Elliott, chairman of the Committee to Save Our Neighborhood, says his members are not opposed to the district's addition to the National Register, but they don't want to lose any property rights or live with restrictions frequently found in historic districts. He and other neighbors say they're upset that the restrictions came after they bought their houses.

Elliott believes landscaping, color schemes and roofing regulations may be imposed on the John S. Park district, as they have been in historic cities such as Alexandria, Va.

"If the house across the street from me doesn't have restrictions and my house has all these restrictions, which house is more saleable?" Elliott asked.

Kenny Stewart, president of the John S. Park Neighborhood Association for the past three years, said there has been a lot misinterpretation of the rules of a historic district. He is delighted his neighborhood is the first in town to receive this recognition.

"People are taking pride of ownership," Stewart said. "That is what it was designed to do."

Councilman Gary Reese, whose ward includes the neighborhood, said residents can still do what they want to their houses. The only restrictions are those imposed by the city's building and zoning codes.

Reese's decision to support the district was not popular among residents who opposed the historic designation.

"Councilman Reese chose to go with the clique that supported his campaign instead of the homeowners," Elliott said.

"You have to balance people's property rights against the historical value. There were some outsiders that picked this neighborhood. This has all been driven by outsiders and a small clique of residents."

Reese said, "That's hogwash."

He said he listened to residents who wanted to keep up their property and preserve its architecture and history.

James said preserving history is important for economic as well as social reasons. Besides the benefit a historic designation can bring to property values, he said, the community benefits from having a piece of history in its midst.

"It will enrich the community and provides a depth to the community so that everyone has an appreciation of it," he said.

Mary Hausch, a member of the Historic Preservation Committee, which worked for the designation since August 2000, said she was elated with her neighborhood's addition to the National Register. Hausch, who has lived there 16 years, said the label of a historic district enhances the value of homes and creates a positive energy in the neighborhood.

"It gives us a sense of community pride. There's value in history in old neighborhoods," she said. "There has been an energy developing in the past couple of years that I haven't seen in the past decade."