COMPLETED - Downtown Historic District Standards Code Revision Project

The City of La Grande Landmarks Commission was successful in receiving a $12,000 grant from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and the Historic Preservation Fund, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, to update the City’s Downtown Historic District Standards.  This grant is being matched with $12,000 in value, which is comprised of in-kind labor (City staff time and volunteer time) and budgeted funds, resulting in a $24,000 project.

Background and Purpose:  The Downtown Historic District Standards were written in 1999, as “guidelines” and later changed to standards in 2009 by Resolution of the City Council.  However, the change from “guidelines” to “standards” did not include significant regulatory edits, thus many of the standards are recommended, suggested or implied, but are not clear.  The lack of clarity in the standards is often confusing for property owners, and have also resulted in inconsistent implementation of some standards.

Through this grant, the City will hire a consultant to facilitate a public process and assist in improving and rewriting the standards to remove the ambiguity and better fit the historic preservation goals of our community. A full Project Description can be downloaded here.

To help you stay engaged and be apprised of project updates, upcoming public meetings, and to share copies of new information as it becomes available, this page will continue to be updated.  The following outlines the project status and milestones completed, with the newest information at the top.  Also you can subscribe to receive updates by email through the Notify Me feature on the CIty's main website page (put a check in next to Landmarks Commission in each desired notification category).  

Project Stages and Information:

  1. Consultant Selection Process
  2. October 19th - Walking Tour of Downtown Historic District and Design Standards Discussion 
  3. October 19th - Walking Tour of Downtown Historic Destrict and Desight Standards Discussion meeting minutes
  4. Survey and November 1st Drawing:  Chance to Win one of two $25 Downtown Merchant Gift Cards
  • Gift Card Winners:  Michael Sattem and Dale Mammen

      5.  Historic District Standards Survey Summary

      6.  Concept Report for the City of La Grande Historic District Standards update

      7.  La Grande Historic District Design Standards Final document adopted July 6, 2022