Downtown Decorah is one step closer to National Register of Historic Places nomination

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission has approved its nomination of downtown Decorah to the National Register of Historic Places of the Decorah Commercial Historic District.

The Commission Monday evening unanimously approved sending on the nomination to the State Nominations Review Committee, which will make a ruling on June 8th.  If the ruling favors the nomination, the documents would be sent on to the National Register of Historic Places program in the Department of the Interior, which would have 90 days to make a ruling.

128 buildings are included in the downtown Decorah historic district, in an area running from the old railroad depot on East Water Street through the Vesterheim Museum on West Water Street and the contiguous one-block sections of Washington, Winnebago, and Court Streets.  A National Register listing would not restrict building owners' control over their properties, but would make them eligible for state and federal tax rehabilitation credits that can equal 45 percent of qualified expenses.

Questions about the meeting or the DHPC 's work can be directed to chair Mark Z. Muggli (612) 720-5795; mugglimz@luther.edu).