Jefferson Park Neighborhood

The Jefferson Park Neighborhood is currently seeking Historic Status. Neighbors are putting in 500 hours of volunteer time researching the history of the neighborhood. The neighborhood must raise $38,000 to reimburse the City of Tucson for the cost of the nomination. Archaeological Consulting Services, Ltd of Tempe, Arizona have been contracted by the city to complete the nomination for consideration as a National Historic District.

In our efforts to create a historic district, there are two types of designation open to us. One is a local historic district, a status that offers strong protection for historic resources but is very difficult to attain. The other—and the one we are targeting—is the National Register of Historic Places, a federal program maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Unlike the local district, a National Register designation has no teeth. It simply provides recognition for the district and makes the historic resources eligible for various incentive programs. It does not prohibit individual homeowners from making significant changes. National Register properties can be demolished by their owners, by development projects, and by neglect.

Recognition on the National Register can bring several benefits to Jefferson Park, both to individual property owners and to the community. Some of these benefits are tangible. Owner-occupied “contributing properties”—properties that maintain their historical integrity and help to define the historical character of the district—qualify for reductions in property taxes of as much as 50 percent in the state of Arizona. But even a non-resident owner of a historic district property, whether it’s contributing or not, will reap some benefits from the district. Historic status fosters community pride and neighborhood spirit, intangibles that can promote the preservation of our neighborhood as a desirable place to live, helping to maintain and even enhance property values. This translates to a quicker sale at a higher price, when that time comes, or an easier rental to qualified tenants, and provides a positive alternative to development pressures.