ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Winter Park city leaders are evaluating ways to encourage homeowners to preserve historic homes as older homes are torn down to make way for newer construction throughout the city.
City leaders have asked the city’s historic preservation board to review potential revisions to the city’s historic preservation ordinance and develop incentives for property owners to list their homes on the historic registry.
The board is expected to bring a list of proposals to the city commission for a workshop in September.
By law, the city cannot force property owners to designate their homes as historic, and city leaders are not considering changing that. Instead, discussions have focused on education on a range of renovations that are allowed for historic properties and incentives, including possible tax breaks for homeowners who keep historic structures standing.
Realtor Rosa Hughes said the issue often comes down to preference for landowners and builders.
“It’s because the builder will say, OK, I don’t have anything to be worried about, I will start from zero,” Hughes said. “I wanted to bring something that I will build, a custom house on this lot.”
At Casa Feliz, one of the oldest homes in Winter Park, Betsy Rogers Owens said the property shows what preservation can accomplish. The home was spared from demolition nearly 25 years ago after several hundred thousand dollars in donations were raised to preserve it.
“A living, breathing example of historic preservation,” Rogers Owens said.
Rogers Owens, executive director of Friends of Casa Feliz, said historic homes are part of what sets Winter Park apart.
“Winter Park’s historic homes are one of the main assets that differentiates this community from a lot of other newer towns,” she said. “And I think we all benefit from these anchor, historic homes and structures.”
She said other cities have used tools to help property owners maintain historic homes.
“There are a lot of things that cities do to meet property owners and say, hey, we’re in this with you, and we want to economically invest in these historic properties along with you,” she said.
In some cases, the land beneath an older home is worth several times more than the structure itself. And Hughes said renovations needed for older homes can also exceed the value of the house, and the structure may not appreciate in value like a newer home would.
“You invest $400,000,” Hughes said. “And then you remember it’s still a house from 1950; you don’t have the high ceilings, the floors — the foundation,” Hudges said.
Rogers Owens pointed to the Burress House, a Tudor-style home designed by her grandfather, James Gamble Rogers II, as one example of a historic home that no longer stands. James Gamble Rogers II designed many other homes across the city.
“I think it was 2005 when that house was demolished,” she said.
While her family’s legacy is near to her heart, Rogers Owens said her main hope is that city leaders promote more preservation to ultimately benefit other families in Winter Park.
“Need to be smart about offering incentives — both carrots and sticks — for protecting heritage and preserving the houses that are really critical to all property values in the city,” she said.