The City of Omaha Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission, established in 1977, is a the Omaha city government's

Government of Omaha

The government of the City of Omaha, Nebraska consists of the Mayor of Omaha, the Omaha City Council and various departments of the City of Omaha, which in located in Douglas County, Nebraska. The city of Omaha was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1857....

 a nine-member board responsible for recommending official Omaha Landmarks

Omaha Landmarks

This article covers Landmarks in Omaha, Nebraska designated by the City of Omaha Landmark Heritage Preservation Commission. In addition, it includes structures or buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those few designated as National Historic Landmarks, indicating their...

 to the Omaha City Council

Omaha City Council

The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2009. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district...

. The Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission is that was established by ordinance in 1977 to review and recommend to the City Council on all matters pertaining to the designation of individual buildings, sites, objects, or entire districts of local historical significance. The commission is staffed by the Landmarks Division of the Omaha Planning Department.

History

The first comprehensive preservation ordinance in Nebraska was adopted by the Omaha City Council

Omaha City Council

The City Council of Omaha, Nebraska is elected every four years on a nonpartisan basis. The next election will occur in 2009. Omaha has a strong mayor form of government. Members are elected by district...

 in 1977. The commission was created after the demolition of the Old Post Office

Old Post Office (Omaha)

The Old Post Office was located at 16th and Dodge Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1898, the building was demolished in 1966. During the process of being demolished the building, along with the Old City Hall, became a rallying force for historic preservation in Omaha.-About:The Old Post Office...

, when the pro-preservation organization Landmarks, Inc. advocated its creation.

Patterned after successful legislation in Seattle, New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 and Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...

, the "Landmarks Heritage Preservation Ordinance" created the Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission. The first comprehensive preservation ordinance in Nebraska, its purpose focuses on designating structures and district

Historic district

A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....

s of local significance; regulate work done on designated buildings; and identify and implement overall goals and objectives for preservation in the city.

Composition

The Commission has nine members, including an architect, a curator, a professional historian, three members active in a preservation-related field, two laypersons and an owner or operator of a business or property within a landmark heritage preservation district. Commission members are appointed by the Mayor to terms of three years, subject to confirmation by the City Council. The Commission selects its own chairman and rules of procedure. The body
generally meets monthly with special meetings held by call of the chairman. The Nebraska State Historical Society

Nebraska State Historical Society

The Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....

 funded the development of the Commission's website, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) for historic properties in 2000.

Designations

As of 2007, more than 90 buildings and structures in Omaha have received Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives, and have been listed by the City of Omaha as Certified Historic Rehabs.