GARLAND – By Cari Doutre – Jan. 9, 2020
There are many historical buildings in Garland City, some dating back over a 100 years, and one man wants to help preserve that history by establishing historical districts throughout the city.
Larry Douglas from the organization Certified Local Government/Historic District, met with members of the Garland City council on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to discuss the city’s options and what needs to happen to officially declare areas and buildings a historic district.
Last year the organization started working with the State of Utah with a Certified Local Government grant that would allow them to do a survey on Garland City, Douglas said. Although the city is not a Certified Local Government yet, Douglas is also working with the Box Elder County Certified Local Government program to see what they can do for other areas in the county.
“The goal of the Certified Local Government program is to help property owners with their historic buildings,” Douglas said.
According to Douglas, in order for building (which includes homes) to be considered “historic” it must be at least 50 years old. Property owners can receive grant money to help make necessary improvements to preserve it’s historical significance. There are matching funds required to receive those grants.
Douglas wants the city to establish an ordinance first then form a committee of at least five members. Those committee members must meet a few requirements.
“We are looking for people that are interested in history. People that are interested in property development. Anybody that you think would do a good job as a commission member for the Garland Certified Local Government,” Douglas said.
Douglas also offered up his own services to be one of those commission members and help guide them through this process. His work with the Certified Local Government program is all on a voluntary level. In addition to him being on the committee, he told the council that Tremonton City Manager Shawn Warnke may also be interested in serving.
Douglas estimates it would cost the city about $7,500 to be established as a Certified Local Government. Or the city can establish a historic zone and register buildings individually.
“Once you’re in that historic district you’re in it like when you nominate a building to the national register. Unless you do something really crazy to the building to throw it off,” Douglas added.
The council agreed that preserving history is important.
“I think we can at least start thinking about an ordinance to become a Certified Local Government and then if people want to apply for things that’s great, we can work on that,” Garland City Mayor Todd Miller said.
The council discussed a few names of local residents they felt would be a good fit for the board.
Garland City councilman Josh Marble expressed his interest on serving on that board. Marble was also assigned to be the city’s official contact over this effort.
The council will shoot for passing an ordinance at their next meeting to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 8 p.m.
One of those areas of interest that would qualify as a historic district in Garland City are the buildings and homes along East Factory Road and West Factory Road. It would include buildings in the downtown district of Garland on Main Street that once housed businesses, some still operating.
There are two very historic buildings in Garland that are known for their beauty, architecture and history to the city. The Garland City Library was constructed in 1914 as a Carnegie Library. The building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since then the building has undergone some reconstruction to keep the library maintained and safe but it’s historical significance is what has kept readers and history buffs pulling to keep it up and going.
That same year, 1914, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built the Garland Tabernacle, just across the street from the library on West Factory Street. The historical significance is visible with their stain glass windows and organ piping, just a few of the original parts of the building that serves three different wards and the stake.
For more on Garland City’s history visit the city’s history page on their website or click on the link below.
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