The Newton City Council received an update Monday night on the progress of the Downtown Historic Preservation by architectural historian Alexa McDowell.
The highlight of the presentation was the announcement that Newton has been unanimously nominated by the State Nomination Review Committee to forward the its nomination to the U.S. National Park Service for a chance to be on the National Register of Historic Places.
“The preservation commission received many accolades from individuals on the panel,” McDowell said. “The city also received accolades for recognizing the resources they have but being very supportive about the efforts with the Main Street Program and with the National Register nomination.”
The commission will receive the nomination with edits. After fixing the edits, McDowell will forward it to the NPS, which will have about 45 days to respond to the nomination. McDowell projects the community will find out if the Newton Historic Preservation District will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in August.
“This document is a part of the national archive, and I think it’s a really amazing thing,” McDowell said. “One hundred years from now, somebody who wants to know about Newton can go to that place, which holds the most important information about the country, and it will be there.”
In other action on Monday:
• The council unanimously passed the second consideration of an ordinance to install additional stop signs within the Belmont Park Subdivision.
• The council unanimously passed a resolution to transfer $35,000 from the City Hall Improvement Fund to the Capital Fund.