Update from the City/County Heritage Tourism Council

Lewis and Clark County now has 6 historic districts, plus 3 ranches, and 23 individual listings that also include 2 cemeteries and 4 existing bridges, to date.

By comparison, Helena now has 9 historic districts, 37 individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places, and now 3 cemeteries. However, the historic designation alone does not provide any protection unless the local governing body has adopted any regulations.

Lewis and Clark County does not have any regulations related to historic preservation. The City of Helena now has regulations for the demolition of historic properties. City and County historic tax abatement applications are required to comply with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation in accordance with Montana law.

On July 15, 2024 the Helena City Commission adopted an ordinance for the Review Process for Demolition of Historic Buildings, Structures and Sites. This ordinance is intended to improve upon the ordinance originally adopted in 1992 (Title 7, Chapter 15 of the City Code) and will become effective in 30 days (Aug. 15, 2024).

The ordinance can be found at https://www.helenamt.gov/Government/Ordinances-Resolutions.

This ordinance applies solely to the demolition of buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and to buildings identified as contributing to a historic district. The City of Helena has not adopted any additional regulations to protect historic properties.

Helena has two voluntary design guidelines:

• Design Guidelines for Improvements in the Downtown Helena Historic District covering building storefronts, window, doors, awnings, signage, and a glossary, to name just a few topics.
• Design Guidelines for Helena’s Historic Neighborhoods covering different historic residential styles; building components including materials, windows, doors, roofs, porches and trim; neighborhood relationships such as building rhythm, scale and setbacks, fences and retaining walls, and brick sidewalks; new construction and alterations; and a glossary.

These voluntary design guidelines are available on the City-County Historic Preservation website, https://go.helenair.com/z9zcr2.

In an advisory capacity, roofing permits are now reviewed for color and materials for contributing properties in historic districts and individually listed historic properties. Currently no additional design considerations are in effect for historic properties other than the City’s typical zoning and building code requirements.

Design requirements to maintain historic character in a historic residential neighborhood or commercial area have been adopted in small and large urban areas across the nation. Design requirements for new construction or building exterior renovations in historic districts can be simple or more complex – depending upon the community’s desire after extensive public discussion.

Helena’s eclectic architecture is reflected throughout the area as different parts of the city were developed at different times, resulting in a mixture of old and construction.

Compatibility within an established historic district can be a challenge!

But the public can help with creating a clear vision of how to accommodate new construction as infill development, or remodeling with new additions to existing historic buildings, and ensure that both are appropriate and consistent with the established surrounding historic area.

Design guidelines for historic districts and properties will be a topic for future public discussion, including what would be addressed, what would be and not be required, how they would be implemented and enforced, etc. We would welcome hearing your thoughts on this important topic.

For more information, contact HPO Pam Attardo, [email protected], (406) 447-8357 or Kathy Macefield at [email protected], (406) 447-8342.+