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Survey results to be presented to Historic Preservation Board this Tuesday

More than 170 buildings in original Sidney town plat included in study

The results of a historical and architectural survey of more than 170 buildings in downtown Sidney will be presented publicly during the meeting of the Sidney Historic Preservation Board this Tuesday.

The presentation will provide an overview of the project and its results, including historic district potential, properties evaluated as eligible for listing in the National Register and examples of interesting architectural and historic building types.

"This gives us a good amount of historical information for Sidney properties," Sidney Economic Development Director Tina Hochwender said. "And then, if we decide to pursue getting them landmarked nationally or locally, we can ensure that the character and integrity of the property is maintained."

The on-the-ground intensive level survey began in December last year and covers 175 commercial, governmental and non-residential buildings constructed prior to 1980 within Sidney's original town plat, from Elm Street, on the north, to King Street, on the south. It also goes from 14th Avenue, on the west, to 7th Avenue, on the east.

The survey is funded through a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant from the Nebraska State Historical Society, and was contracted to Front Range Research Associates out of Denver.

Expanding on a 1994 survey of the area, the new survey will provide historical background, architectural details and current photographs for each building included. Hochwender said that earlier survey was mainly for reconnaissance, which she said is not as detailed as the new survey, and was focused primarily on commercial buildings.

"There was a limited budget, so it didn't look at many buildings that were residential," she said. "It showed who owned (the property), but didn't go into that much historical details, facts or the attributes of the buildings."

The project team includes architectural historians Tom and Laurie Simmons, both with Front Range Research Associates, and Omaha native Mary Therese Anstey of History Matters. Shelley McCafferty of White River Design and Consulting out of Whitney, Neb., provided suggestions on resources included in the survey.

Assisting the team with historic records, photographs and information on specific buildings were the Cheyenne County Assessor Louella Pippitt, County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh, the Sidney Public Library, the Cheyenne County Historical Association and several local business owners and residents.

"They got as much detail as they could come up with for these properties," Hochwender said.

Hochwender said the information collected in the survey will be recorded and sent to the Nebraska State Historical Society's historic preservation office in Lincoln where it will be kept on file.

"So anyone researching, the data will be there and available as a public record," Hochwender said. "We'll get copies as well, but this way, anyone can access it in their database."

The results of the survey will be reported at the Sidney Historic Preservation Board's monthly public meeting scheduled to begin at noon on Tuesday, April 12, inside the city council chambers in Sidney City Hall located at 1115 13th Ave.

For more information, contact Tina Hochwender at (308) 254-8455 or by email at [email protected], or Tom Simmons with Front Range Research Associates at (303) 477-7597 or by email at [email protected].

 

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