Downtown Wadsworth Historic District

The Downtown Wadsworth Historic District is among Ohio’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. This prestigious designation highlights the rich historical and cultural significance of Wadsworth’s downtown area, marking a significant milestone for the community.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. It was created to be a no-strings-attached honor; as an acknowledgment by the federal government that a site is important for its contributions to local, state, or national history.

The National Register is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office / National Park Service under the Secretary of the Interior. Its primary goals are to foster a national preservation ethic, promote greater appreciation of America’s heritage, and to increase and broaden the public’s understanding and appreciation of historic places.

Myths and Facts:

  • PROVIDES recognition of a property's significance in history, architecture, archaeology, or engineering.
  • PROVIDES a moral obligation, although not a legal one, to preserve the property.
  • PROVIDES limited protection when a property is endangered by a federally funded or licensed action. 
  • PROVIDES the owner of an income producing property (commercial or rental residential) the opportunity to apply for Federal & State Tax Incentives for Rehabilitation
  • PROVIDES the owner the opportunity to apply for matching grants-in-aid for restoration/rehabilitation (when funding is available).
  • DOES NOT restrict the use of the property. (For example, an owner can continue to live in a listed house, convert a listed property to another use, continue to farm ground where a listed archaeological site may be located, conduct new construction on the site, etc.)
  • DOES NOT restrict the sale of a property, unless under the jurisdiction of a federal agency.
  • DOES NOT require continued maintenance of private property.
  • DOES NOT require that any specific guidelines be followed in a rehabilitation (unless the owner is using federal funds or rehabilitation tax credits). For example, the owner of a listed property may paint his building any color he chooses.
  • DOES NOT require the owner to give tours of the property or open it to the public.
  • DOES NOT guarantee funds for restoration.
  • DOES NOT require or guarantee perpetual maintenance of the property.
  • DOES NOT provide a National Register plaque or a state historic marker for the property (although property owners are eligible to acquire such markers at their own expense).

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