Notable Designated Properties Benefits of Historic

Notable Designated Properties
Elizabeth Eaton House
1809 Riverview Drive
Built in 1892 in a
Victorian Vernacular
style, the house was home
to a Melbourne pioneer
and represents the steamboat and WWII eras. Located
on the Indian River Lagoon, it contains remnants of the
1890’s bluffwalk strolling path.
James W. Rossetter House
1328 Houston Street
The property includes
a conglomeration of 3
separate buildings of
different local vernacular
styles influenced by Folk Victorian. The house, as it
stands today, was assembled by James W. Rossetter in
1908. The property was listed on the National Register
of Historic Places on July 27, 2005.
The Sea Lounge
105 E. Avenue B
Known as the Sea
Lounge, the house was
built in the 1920s in a
Mediterranean Revival
Style. The house is located in the Indian River Bluff
subdivision and was developed during the Great Land
Boom period of 1921 to 1926.
Eau Gallie Yacht Club
1149 Houston Street
Built in 1911 as the Eau
Gallie Yacht Club in the
Florida Vernacular style,
the house is associated
with the development of the Eau Gallie’s sports fishing
and boating industry around the 20th century.
Benefits of
Historic Designation
The Economic Benefits
• Stabilizes and improves property values in historic
areas
• Grants eligibility for property tax abatement
programs
• May reduce the cost of construction through the
reuse of existing structures
• Supports cultural tourism
The Cultural Benefits
• Fosters civic pride
• Combats urban decay
• Retains the history and authenticity of a
neighborhood by:
»» Commemorating the past
»» Preserving the texture, craftsmanship and
style of bygone eras
»» Creating pedestrian and visitor appeal
»» Enabling the community to identify specific
buildings for protection/preservation
The Environmental Benefits
• Saves energy by reusing existing structures and
existing materials, thereby reducing:
»» Hazardous waste and demolition debris
»»
Need for new material
For more information, please contact:
Community Development Department
900 E. Strawbridge Ave.
Melbourne, Florida 32901
CITY OF MELBOURNE, FLORIDA
(321) 608-7500
P&Z@melbourneflorida.org
www.melbourneflorida.org/history
March 2014
Historic buildings, structures, objects, landscape
features, archaeological sites/zones, and other
improvements that are at least 50 years old and:
• Are significant in Melbourne’s
architecture, archaeology or culture.
history,
• Possess integrity of location, design, setting,
materials, workmanship or association.
• Meet one or more of the following designation
criteria:
»»
Are associated with events that have made
significant contributions to our history.
»»
Are associated with the lives of persons
significant in our past.
»»
Embody the characteristics of a distinctive
architecture style, construction style, or
period; or were built by a prominent
designer/builder.
»»
Yield, or are likely to yield, historical or
pre-historical information.
»»
Are designated on the National Register of
Historic Places.
»»
Are related or are part of a landscape, park,
environmental or other distinctive feature
tied to a historical, cultural, or architectural
motif; or are easily identifiable visual
features and contribute to the distinctive
quality of such neighborhood or the city.
See Chapter 10, Article. XI, Section 10-229 for additional
information on the designation process and criteria.
1. Petition
The owner submits a written petition to the Historic
Preservation Board (HPB) to consider the designation.
There is no fee to apply.
2. Preliminary Review
The HPB either accepts or denies the petition. If
accepted, the HPB sets a date for a public hearing
and directs staff to complete the Designation Report.
3. Designation Report
The City’s Historic Preservation Officer (HPO)
prepares the Designation Report and recommends
approval or denial based on the designation criteria.
4. Notification of Public Hearing
A notice of public hearing is published in the newspaper
and mailed, together with the Designation Report, to
the property owner. Surrounding property owners are
also notified.
5. Historic Preservation Board Hearing
At the public hearing, the HPB makes a
recommendation to the City Council to approve,
deny or amend the proposed designation.
6. City Council Hearing
The City Council approves, denies or approves with
conditions the designation by resolution. If approved,
the property gets listed on the Melbourne Register of
Historic Places.
7. Effect of Designation
Exterior changes to the designated landmark requiring
a building permit will first need to obtain a Certificate
of Appropriateness (COA) from the HPB or HPO.
The purpose of the COA is to ensure the change
is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Rehabilitation.
The Village of Melbourne
and the nearby City of
Eau Gallie were settled in
the late 1800s along the
banks of Crane Creek and
Elbow Creek, respectively.
Since that time, the two
communities have gone
through cyclical eras of
expansion and decline.
In 1893, Henry Flagler’s
railroad arrived in Florida
triggering significant population and economic growth.
In 1919, Melbourne suffered a setback when a fire
destroyed most of the Front Street district, which had
been the center of Melbourne since the 1880s. The
downtown was later rebuilt west
of the train depot. The Great
Florida Land Boom period of
the 1920s and the completion
of The Dixie Highway brought
another wave of development,
which lasted until 1926, when
hurricanes and a railroad
embargo burst the boom bubble.
The Great Depression followed, which greatly affected
population and economic growth. In the 1940s, the US
Army and the Navy started
training at bases in Melbourne.
In the next decade, tourism,
industry, citrus, and cattle
ranches brought stability and
growth. The establishment of
the Kennedy Space Center
in 1962 brought another
prosperous era of development
and national recognition to
Melbourne and Eau Gallie. In
1969, Melbourne and Eau Gallie merged into the City
of Melbourne - the Harbor City, becoming the largest
city in Brevard County at the time.