Members of Laurel Park's Historic Preservation Committee and volunteers from the neighborhood completed a survey of all Laurel Park properties within the proposed national historic district in June. The survey was undertaken specifically to:
1. Review and update the City of Sarasota’s existing files of historic inventory in Laurel Park, which was last updated in 2003.
2. Identify properties and structures overlooked or now of qualifying age (50 years or older) that could be added to the existing list of historic inventory
3. Identify income producing properties that might qualify for historic tax credits if and when a national historic district is created in Laurel Park.
Committee members and volunteers concentrated on Laurel Park properties that will likely contribute to the proposed historic district. It is possible some of properties or units within properties were overlooked. However, the results of the survey are as follows:
LAUREL PARK PROPERTIES SURVEYED
|
Total properties surveyed |
237 |
|
Properties deemed as contributing (incl. local and national designations) |
173 |
|
Properties deemed non-contributing (incl. demolished and moved) |
45 |
|
Properties locally designated as historic |
18 |
|
Properties listed on National Register of Historic Places |
1 |
|
Properties eligible for historic designation (in current condition) |
90 |
|
Altered properties (in most cases, alterations considered reversible) |
71 |
|
Properties moved to another neighborhood |
4 |
|
Demolished properties |
10 |
|
Approximate number of individual rental units |
402 |
|
Approximate number of income producing properties |
150 |
|
Approximate number of income producing properties 50 yrs or older |
104 |
SURVEY CONCLUSIONS:
1. An overwhelming percentage of the buildings in Laurel Park have historic integrity. A large number of buildings have been altered over the years but retain original character to contribute to and form a large historic district.
2. Demolitions and removal of housing stock 50 years or older is on the rise since the 2003 survey was completed depleting the number of multi-family rental housing units and replacing them with single family residences, most with an accessory living unit.
3. 150 properties in Laurel Park were identified as rental housing, income producing properties for Sarasota. These properties provide between 300 and 400 individual and/or family housing units and a small percentage of office/professional units in our downtown.
4. 104 properties would be eligible for a financial incentive (federal tax credits) to rehabilitate and continue to use the building as an income producing property IF Laurel Park becomes a national historic district.
Laurel Park News, August 2006