Historic Preservation
Greeley takes pride in preserving historic properties, celebrating its history and significant buildings, sites, and districts. Historic Preservation designates properties to be on the Greeley Historic Register, provides financial incentives for work on historically relevant properties, and educates groups about the significance of preserving historic landmarks.
Historic Properties
Eligible properties can be added to the Greeley Historic Register. This allows a property to receive recognition for its historical, architectural, and/or geographical significance in Greeley’s history and ensures that the historic qualities will be maintained in the future. Additionally, owners may be eligible for additional benefits, such as grant funds, low interest loans, tax credits, and other incentives.
Adding a Property to the Historic Register
Designation allows properties to receive special historical, architectural, and/or geographical significance in Greeley’s history. It also ensures that historic qualities will be maintained in the future, independent of its ownership. Designation can significantly increase the value of the property and surrounding neighborhood, contributing to the revitalization of neighborhoods and pride in the community.
While there is no obligation to restore or rehabilitate a property on the historic register, owners must work with the Historic Preservation Commission or the Historic Preservation Specialist for the following:
- Altering, moving or demolishing a structure.
- Major exterior alterations, repairs, rehabilitation, reconstruction or new construction.
- Repairs, routine maintenance, landscaping, low fences or walls, or painting.
Nomination and Designation Process
The Historic Preservation Staff is ready to help answer questions about a property’s eligibility for the Historic Register and is a great first resource for processing an application. There are different kinds of nominations.
Individual Property Nominations
Any owner may nominate their property, area or structure for designation. The Historic Preservation team will help a property owner navigate the nomination process, including explanation of the process, benefits and obligations of designation, and assistance in determining eligibility and significance of a property.
Properties and districts nominated but not yet designated are subject to legal protection for 120 days until the status is determined. Permits to alter or remodel the exterior of a property or to build, relocate, or raze will not be issued during that 120-day period unless there is a written exemption from the Commission.
Designation for the Historic Register is a five-step process which takes 60-90 days from the time the application is submitted to the public hearing where the Commission votes on the designation.
Once a property is deemed to be a good fit, a property owner may submit a completed Greeley Historic Register Nomination Packet, including a legal description of the property, exterior photos of all building sides and a $50 application fee to the Historic Preservation Office.
If the property owner’s application is accepted, they will be notified, a public hearing will be scheduled, and a public notice will be posted on the property. The public hearing will include a report on the merits of the application, an applicant presentation (if desired), and public comment, and will be held before the Historic Preservation Commission. The commission will then rule on the application.
Non-owner and District Nominations
The Planning Commission, Greeley Urban Renewal Authority, Downtown Development Authority or any preservation organization including nonprofit historic preservation groups may nominate a property, district, area or structure for designation subject to all the rules and procedures of the Greeley Municipal Code. Non-owner individual nominations are reviewed under stricter protections and must meet criteria of overwhelming historic importance to the entire community.
Two or more individuals may nominate a district in which they own property by attaching a petition with signatures of support from property owners within the district showing. District nominations require a district designation plan, neighborhood meeting and an owner vote with a majority approval prior to a designation hearing.
In the case of non-owner and district nominations, the Commission makes a recommendation, and the City Council makes the final decision.
Quick Links
Ready to Apply?
Greeley Historic Register Nomination Packet.
Historical Property Resources
Interested in learning more about historical property in Greeley? We are here to help! Here are some online resources:
Potential Historic Register Benefits
We have a low interest loan program available to help offset the preservation costs associated with owning a historic property. It is administered by a seven-member committee consisting of four Historic Preservation Commission members, the Director of Community Development, the Historic Preservation Specialist and the Finance Director. This program is funded entirely by the City of Greeley and is available to properties listed on the Greeley Historic Register, the State Register, and/or National Register.
Eligible projects
- exterior repairs, renovation, and rehabilitation
- refurbishment of roofs, foundations, sidings, windows, exterior doors, gutters and concrete sidewalks/driveways
- decorative site work (draining and landscaping)
- exterior paint
The loan is not available for work to the interior unless directly related to the exterior structural components.
Loan terms
- Amounts available up to $20,000
- 5 year repayment
- Interest rate is set at ½ of the Prime Rate set by the Federal Reserve Bank
Dollar for Dollar Credit
A state income tax credit is available for
- Owners or tenants with a lease of five years
- For qualified properties
- Over 50 years old
- Individually designated on the Greeley Historic Register, or;
- a contributing property in a locally designated historic district, or;
- listed on the Colorado State Historic Register.
- On projects on the interior or exterior of historic properties that are completed within 24 months and meet Secretary of the Interior's Standards
The available credit is 20% of qualified costs up to a maximum of $50,000 credit per qualified property. Qualified costs for the rehabilitation project include "hard costs" over $5000 such as demolition, carpentry, sheetrock, plaster, painting, doors and windows, roofing. "Soft costs", such as architectural fees or insurance, do not qualify.
Contact the Historic Preservation Office for an application.
Submit your application to the Historic Preservation Office for a quick review of your proposed project.
Preservation projects requiring a permit and design review through the Historic Preservation Office and/or Commission may be eligible for a refund of permit fees.
Designated public and non-profit properties are eligible to apply for grant money to do preservation, rehabilitation or restoration work on a property through the State Historical Fund of the Colorado Historical Society. A public or non-profit entity can apply for grant funds on behalf of private property owners. See History Colorado for more information.
Historic Resource Survey Plan
Historic resource surveys provide historical and architectural information on properties and areas and identify significant and potentially eligible properties for designation. Property owners can then decide if they are interested in designation and financial incentives for rehabilitation work. This project was paid for in part by a History Colorado – State Historical Fund grant.
Greeley's Historic Preservation Commission recently conducted an assessment to define historic properties and areas within the city. Please contact the Historic Preservation division for a copy of the survey plan.