by Cynthia de Miranda, MdM Historical Consultants, Inc.
June 2009

It’s not a contradiction in terms: Modern can be historic. In fact, a number of Modernist houses in the Triangle have already been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The best candidates are excellent and intact examples of Modernism and are generally at least fifty years old.

In North Carolina, National Register listing is separate from Local Landmark status. Contrary to popular belief, listing a North Carolina property in the National Register does not mean you can’t change it. But remember this: if you make compatible changes, your project could qualify for historic preservation tax credits. To claim the credits, you must submit an application to the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office. When planning a remodel, the earlier you contact the Historic Preservation Office, the greater the chance that your project will qualify for tax credits.

Check out this link for more information on preservation tax credits:
http://www.hpo.dcr.state.nc.us/tchome.htm.

How do you nominate a property for National Register listing? In North Carolina, the first step is getting it on the Study List. The Study List application is very simple and requires a brief description, history, and—most importantly—lots of good photographs. You can get application forms from the National Register Coordinator at the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office; find out more at http://www.hpo.dcr.state.nc.us/slhowto.htm.

If the property makes it on the Study List, then pursue a National Register nomination. The nomination requires complete photo documentation; floor plans; maps; a detailed description of the current and original appearance; a thorough history; contextual information that might require an account of the architect’s career, a comparison of the building to similar designs, or an explanation of the impact the design had on later buildings; and a bibliography.

In North Carolina, historical consultants generally prepare nominations on behalf of owners, although anyone may prepare a nomination. The entire process can take a year or more and is, in truth, more complicated than described here. The good news is that plenty of help is available from the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office and you can pursue your tax credits while your National Register nomination is in process. And just in case you think paperwork clashes with your clean Modernist aesthetic, an historical consultant can help you with a tax credit application as well.