Wayne should consider a Historic District

Although Wayne is small and a large part of its historic buildings were torn down in the 1960s during Urban Renewal, there are still some historic gems left that should be protected. Designating an area a Historic District is one of the few ways to legally protect an area from destruction, and ensures the area is preserved for future generations.
The area along Brush, Clinton and Elizabeth is an example of an area that could be designated, as it has the highest percentage of pre-1900 homes left in the city. Another great area would be the tree streets, as they have many 19s and 20s bungalows and cottages, many of which are catalog and kit homes.
Historic Districts get a bad name from misinformation and overzealous commissions of the past, but in creating a historic district today they can be created to work for the modern world. I’ll try to clarify some pros and cons below. The biggest benefit is they prevent houses from being torn down, which can change the feel and character of a neighborhood. They can also regulate infill or new houses being built in a neighborhood, preventing houses that are too big or out of character with the surrounding buildings.

“The Hoise house, one of Wayne’s lost great houses, torn down in 1966.”

Historic Districts will regulate the front facade of a house’s appearance from the street, this may mean they have a say in changing windows, porch railings or siding. They do not regulate paint colors, landscaping, anything on the interior of a home, or the back and sides of a home. The goal is to keep an appropriate and historic look from the street, while allowing freedom in the other areas.
If you live in a historic home, it’s because you like that old look and character, so the goal is to preserve that look along the street for all to enjoy.
Most modern Historic Districts don’t require repairing or replacing things with expensive or original materials (for example, replacing 100-year-old wood with 100-year-old wood), most allow modern materials that just mimic the look, saving owners money.
Homes in historic districts also increase in property value by 10-30% compared to non-designated areas in the same town. The state and federal government also offer some tax credits for restoration on designated homes, sometimes covering 20% of a project cost. Statewide there are 82 recognized Historic Districts, including in our neighbor cities, such as Canton, Livonia and Plymouth. By adopting a historic district, the city as a whole could also benefit, as it’s one of the requirements to become a Certified Local Government (CLG) through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. A Certified Local Government is a program where the city must show that it actively plans for, protects, and tells the story of important historic places. In exchange, communities gain special access to exclusive grant funding opportunities, technical assistance from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and other benefits. Wayne has already lost so much of its history, it’s time to save what is left.