Some Clinton property owners may soon be eligible for a variety of state and federal tax credits if the High Street Historic District is accepted into the National Register of Historic Places.

On July 16, the Clinton Historic District Commission (HDC) hosted an informational meeting about the proposed district and the benefits national recognition will bring to the 93-acre area and to the town as a whole.

HDC Vice-President Alan Felgate stressed that, unlike local historic districts, being listed in the national register doesn’t bring with it onerous restrictions and regulations, and he emphasized that the commission’s nomination of the district was motivated by a deep desire to protect the area.

“Historic preservation is so important in a town like Clinton that has such a rich architectural heritage,” Felgate said. “That heritage can come under threat for a variety of reasons, whether it’s commercial development or even a really bad storm. But this is the commission’s responsibility and we take it very, very seriously.”

One common misconception many property owners have about national historic districts is that if their property lies within the district, they are automatically mandated to adhere to strict guidelines regulating design, new construction, and renovations. While this is true for local historic districts, national districts don’t impose such restrictions unless federal tax dollars are being used to help subsidize the renovations.

In cases where federal funds are in play, there are specific standards relating to things like chimneys and porches. Property owners in a national historic district may find that expenditures on roof rehabilitation, restoration of original millwork, staircases, ceilings, and many more projects qualify for tax credits.

In one modern addition to the rules, solar panel installation also qualifies for credits under the national guidelines. The tax credit for these projects equals 30 percent of the expenditures, and the minimum amount owners must spend to qualify is $15,000, with a maximum cap of $30,000 per residential unit.

The approximately two dozen residents at the July 16 meeting also learned that national historic listing not only creates eligibility for funding and tax incentives, but can actually help property owners fend off government interference.

“Listed properties are protected through environmental review,” said Jenny Scofield from the State Historic Preservation office. “What that basically means is not that there are requirements placed on the property owner, but that the property owners are protected against government action,” she said.

Tod Bryant of Heritage Resources is the consultant who drafted the nomination for the district, and he gave a presentation on the specific boundaries and history of the area including its maritime heritage and history of the Pond’s company, which came to Clinton in the 1880s.

“This process of getting listed is taken very seriously and has several levels of scrutiny, so it really is an honor,” Bryant said.

The next step in the nominating process is for the state review board to vote on approval in September. If approved, the district will then automatically be listed in the state register, which will create some eligibility for funding and tax credits. Then, if the board requests any changes to the proposed boundaries of the district, Bryant will rework the map to comply with those requests, and then the nomination will be sent off for national approval.

Scofield hopes that the national listing could come through this year, but said it might not be finalized until next spring.

No residents raised objections or concerns, though one woman suggested the boundaries be redrawn to include the Pallenberg house on North High Street where Emil Pallenberg trained Russian black bears in the 1930s and ’40s to perform in circuses. At one point at least 10 bicycle-riding, trick-performing bears were housed in the back yard.

Scofield explained that once a district is listed the boundaries aren’t set in stone.

“We really tried to include properties that contributed to the theme of maritime heritage and industry,” Scofield said.

“Maybe we can do a separate historic dancing bear district,” Bryant added, to laughter.