Preservation Planning & Designation Services
Preservation Texas supports communities, organizations, and property owners in planning for the long-term protection, recognition, and adaptive reuse of historic places. Our planning and designation services provide expert guidance through complex regulatory processes, helping ensure that preservation goals are met while making historic resources eligible for benefits such as tax credits, grants, and legal protections. These services can be applied to individual properties, historic districts, or larger cultural landscapes across Texas.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANS – Developing long-term strategies for the preservation, interpretation, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, sites, and landscapes.
A preservation plan establishes a clear vision and framework for managing change, aligning community values, available resources, and preservation priorities over time.
NATIONAL REGISTER DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY (D.O.E.) – Evaluating if a property meets the criteria for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
A D.O.E. is often required as part of regulatory review for historic properties, providing clarity and guidance on treatment without requiring a formal listing.
Cape's Dam in Hays County is an important mid-19th century structure that has been determined eligible for the National Register.
NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION – Preparing and submitting applications for National Register of Historic Places listing, including historical research, mapping, and evaluation of significance and integrity.
Listing on the National Register is required for a property to be classified as “historic” by the federal government. This designation unlocks access to many preservation incentives such as tax credits and grants.
RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK (RTHL) APPLICATION – Preparing applications for the RTHL designation, which requires detailed historical research, documentation, and collaboration with the County Historical Commission.
The RTHL is the highest honor the state can bestow on a historic structure, offering permanent legal protection and increasing public awareness.
Preservation Texas successfully nominated the 1875 Bassett House in Limestone County as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 2015.
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION SUBJECT MARKER APPLICATION – Preparing applications for official Texas Historical Commission (THC) subject markers, including historical research, documentation, and submission.
Securing a THC subject marker raises public awareness of your property’s historical significance, offering formal recognition while increasing its visibility and promoting heritage tourism.
Preservation Texas's successful Undertold Marker application recognized the first Chinese laborers in Texas, who were employed in the construction of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, and was dedicated in Kosse in 2024.
STATE ANTIQUITIES LANDMARK APPLICATION – Preparing applications for State Antiquities Landmark designation, which provides legal protection for publicly owned historic resources in Texas.
This designation safeguards important sites on public land and is essential for compliance with state preservation laws.
HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY APPLICATION – Preparing applications for official designation of historic cemeteries through the Texas Historical Commission.
Designation ensures long-term recognition and protection for historic burial grounds, which are often at risk of neglect or disturbance.
Preservation Texas worked with advocates of the endangered St. John's Freedom Colony in Caldwell County to secure Historic Cemetery designation in 2024.
LOCAL LANDMARK APPLICATION – Preparing nominations for local historic designation through city or county landmark programs.
Local landmark designations offer the most robust protection from demolition or inappropriate alterations available to property owners. Many landmark programs also offer financial incentives to participating property owners.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS (COA) ASSISTANCE – Assisting property owners with preparing COA applications and providing independent design review support to Certified Local Governments (CLGs).
COA support helps streamline review processes and ensures that proposed changes meet local historic district standards while supporting the property's historic character.
PRESERVATION DESIGN CONSULTATIONS – Providing expert guidance on sensitive modifications to historic properties, including design solutions for adaptive reuse, materials selection, and treatments that meet preservation standards.
Early design input can help property owners avoid costly mistakes and ensure that work aligns with accepted preservation practices.
