Sarasota has a colorful history, and there are many older homes in the city that have historical significance. The Flying Wallendas’ family home is here, many of John Ringling’s properties are still in place, and although her name is not as well known, Marie Selby is a celebrated part of our folklore – and there are several properties with her name on them. Many non-residential properties are on the register of historic places, such as buildings designed by Paul Rudolph and Frank Lloyd Wright.  While it is not necessarily common to purchase a home with historic significance, it is entirely possible – and there are guidelines as to just how much you can change the original design.

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Whether you currently live in a historic home or are considering a purchase, the homeownership experience is different – and may provide many benefits. There are often state, federal and private institutions who are interested in preserving historic houses and structures and may provide the funding to ensure it is done properly.

How do you know if a home is historic – or just old?

The National Register of Historic Places is the most recognized source of historic properties. Listing in excess of 90,000 properties, the register run by the National Park Service showcases properties that hold a proven place in American history. Inclusion in the register is based on time-relevant characteristics of architecture, archeology, culture and art – and typically must be at least 50 years old. However, the National Register does not include every home in the country that represents historical import. Many towns and cities across the nation have their own established guidelines that define “historically significant.” Local ordinances and zoning regulations certify the property’s status as historic, even if it is not included on the national list. Home buyers and owners can check with local municipal offices to find out if there are restrictions on the older home they wish to purchase – whether affecting the home itself, or the neighborhood it is located in.

Click to view Sarasota’s Historic Preservation Program website.

Are renovations to historic houses allowed?

Surprisingly, homes on the National Register aren’t officially protected by their inclusion on the list. According to the U.S. government, civilian owners of the property can do whatever they like with their property, even have it completely torn down.

However, the more likely scenario is that homes on the National Register – or in a recognized historic district such as Burn’s Court in Sarasota – will have conditions placed on them by the local mnicipality regarding the renovations and updates that are allowed. Typically, extending the footprint or adding square footage to historically significant properties is going to be challenging, no matter where you live. Other strict limitations may include alterations to windows and shutters, which are often characteristically historic and defining features.

Homes on the National Register are eligible for funds from the National Historic Preservation Fund. The federal grants offered through the program helps homeowners to improve their historic residence, and it also provides incentives for first-time homebuyers to purchase and renovate old houses. Four types of renovation are permitted if Preservation Fund money is being utilized:

  • Preservation — focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property’s form as it has evolved over time.
  • Rehabilitation —acknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property’s historic character.
  • Restoration —depicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods.
  • Reconstruction —re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes.

Expert Sarasota Architectural Assistance

If you have purchased a historic property in Sarasota and wish to renovate it, having a professional architect familiar with the city and its ordinances is essential. Contact the team at JTL Studios – we will work with you to preserve the significance of the structure while making it a place you are proud to call home.