Albert Einstein once said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today.” Learning from days gone by was on the minds of city officials and members of the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission when they created a new program to recognize historical structures in the area, the Historic Resource Recognition Award Program.
According to the city, the designation is a recognition of non-landmark properties possessing historical, architectural or aesthetic merit. The overall goal of this program is to recognize and encourage the protection, enhancement and use of such sites and structures for public enjoyment and cultural enrichment. This program is distinct and separate from the city of Sedona’s official historic landmarks program.
“The adoption of the Historic Resource Recognition Award Program will help bridge the gap between those properties eligible for designation as a city landmark, based upon the criteria, and those that have been altered and are ineligible but are part of the story of Sedona’s past,” Assistant Community Development Director Warren Campbell said.
The first recipient of this designation is the Sedona Art Center’s Art Barn. A reception will be held on Friday, May 17, at 5 p.m. at the Arts Center. The event is open to the public.
“The Sedona Arts Center is delighted to be the first recipient of the Historic Resource Award Program,” Sedona Arts Center Executive Director Vince Fazio said. “We have been a dynamic resource for arts education and exhibition for locals and visitors alike for over 60 years.”
Properties currently designated or eligible to be designated as a Sedona landmark will not be considered for the program. The building must be at least 50 years old. If it’s younger than that, other considerations include if a significant event occurred at the site, the site was owned or occupied by a historically significant individual or its renowned for its sense of place. Architectural and aesthetic merit will also be considered.
Sites and structures eligible include residential, rural residential within city limits, churches, schools, commercial, resorts, ranches and structures involved in the movie industry.
“Sedona is a city with a rather short history, but one that is incredibly interesting to both our residents and to our visitors,” Historic Preservation Commission chair Brynn Unger said. “Many of the historical places have been well preserved and fit the criteria to be considered landmarks, but there are many that don’t fulfill that category but have fascinating pasts that will spur the imagination of anyone who learns their history.”
The HPC decided to create a new designation — historic resources — to invite the exploration of the city’s past as seen in the buildings and landscapes that have been minimally altered but still hold an important key to how the city and the area developed.
“This is an exciting expansion of our designations and one we are sure that those who live here and those coming to visit will find very interesting,” Unger said. “We kick off this project with our first designation the Sedona Art Barn, a wonderful example of the past and how important all of these places are to those who enjoy Sedona for how it is and how it was.”
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
