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But a longstanding effort by historic preservationists to protect some of Winona’s most significant downtown buildings finally took off Tuesday night.
The city council approved creation of two local historic districts on Third and Second streets downtown.
Property owners within those districts now must obtain city approval before demolishing or making major changes to building facades.
Local historic districts downtown were first proposed in 1996, but opposition from property owners sidetracked the plan.
This time, a group of downtown business owners actually approached city officials to request formation of the district, said Bob Sebo, chairman of Winona’s Historic Preservation Commission.
Previously, some property owners worried they would be required to perform costly renovations of buildings that are no longer viable.
But Sebo said opponents have become more comfortable with the proposal.
“We said the key to success was education, and that’s what we’ve been doing for 11 years,” Sebo said.
The city’s new comprehensive plan endorsed creating the districts. The Winona Area Chamber of Commerce also passed a resolution lending “full support” to the initiative, which Sebo said wasn’t the case in 1996.
Supporters believe the districts will protect one of Winona’s most significant assets — its historic downtown architecture.
The districts include 110 buildings on 14 downtown blocks. The Winona Commercial Historic District is centered on Third Street from Johnson to Franklin, while a smaller East Second Street Commercial Historic District encompasses buildings from Center to Walnut.
Those boundaries roughly match districts already listed on the National Historic Register.
But a local historic district has more restrictive guidelines. Any proposed modifications to buildings within the district must receive a “certificate of appropriateness” from Winona’s Historic Preservation Commission.
Property owners can appeal to the city council if they disagree with a recommendation of the historic preservation commission, Sebo said.
Historically accurate renovation isn’t necessarily more expensive or difficult, Sebo said. He said the commission wants to work with property owners to maintain a building’s architectural integrity at a reasonable cost.
“We’re not the history police,” Sebo said.
