Residents divided over benefits of Port Royal historic district

About 10 residents debated before the Port Royal Town Council Wednesday whether a proposed historic district would help or hurt property values. The crowd was split.

Some residents said during their allotted two minutes that having a home in the historic district decreases its value. Others said a historic district not only increases value of homes but also is beneficial to the town.

Resale values in all 30 of South Carolina's historic districts increased after adopting preservation zoning ordinances, according to the State Historic Preservation Office. In Beaufort the average increase was 21 percent between 1990 and 1996, in Columbia 26 percent and in Greenville 50 percent.

A list of 39 properties in Port Royal to be included in a historic district will go before the council Aug. 13 for preliminary approval. If approved on second reading, the properties would make official a historic district at least eight months in the making. The council in December created the historic preservation commission to identify historically significant homes in the town in an attempt to preserve them. The commission finalized its recommendation July 9.

Residents who said a historic district would decrease their home's value outnumbered those who spoke in support of the district.

"I'm not against a historic district," said Augusta Vella, who lives at 902 Seventh St. "(But it can be) a handicap to those who can't bear the cost."

Vella has requested her property be removed from the list because she said there are decreased values and costs associated with a historic district, which she estimates around $1 million.

Karl Twenge, a local attorney representing the owners of a home at 912 Eighth St., said he questioned the claim made by the historic district's supportersthat historic districts increase value. He said they had two appraisals done last week on the property, one if it was in the district and one if it was out.

"It was $290,000 to the detriment of the home if it was in the historic district," Twenge said. "I understand that sometimes one must sacrifice. But to sacrifice $290,000 individually for the good of others?"

Twenge said the town could face litigation regarding lost value if residents were forced into a district that lowered their property values.

However residents also spoke in support of the district and the value it brings to town, citing cities such as Charleston. John Ellerbe, who is on the town's design review board but does not own a historic home, said having a home in the district is not only a financial benefit to the owner but to the community.

"Across the country, historic districts enhance the value," he said.

Bill Scheper, who serves on the preservation commission, said that while houses may potentially lose value initially,the council should consider the greater good because eventually it would increase the home's value and those across town.

"(The historic district) may not be fancy like Beaufort's, but it's unique," he said. He added that because of that, the properties should be preserved.