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WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission is investigating the feasibility of establishing a historic downtown district.

During the past several meetings the board has discussed options and benefits for establishing a historical downtown district. Building Official Randy Adams said for the commercial businesses within the district they would be eligible for grant funding to redo their facades. They would also be eligible for tax credits.

The area currently being considered is Big Horn Avenue from Railway Avenue to 11th Street, Adams said.

During the BAPC regular meeting Aug. 8, Adams said he spoke with State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) officials and consultants who are assisting with Wheatland’s downtown survey project. He noted that another advantage to the district would be being able to get a complete survey of what is available within the district, both commercial and residential structures.

Mike Bies of the Washakie County Historical Preservation Commission said the city could do an honorary designation or could go for the official designation through the SHPO program.

Each year the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) must transfer a minimum of 10% of the state’s annual apportionment of Historic Preservation Funds (HPF) to Certified Local Governments (CLGs) for eligible activities, according to the SHPO website.

Bies also said that the Washakie County Historical Preservation Commission (HPC) has received previous grants to put together land ownership records for the city’s original plat and first and second addition.

“We have the property histories and some photographs,” Bies told the board. He said they have compiled the county history up to 1941.

“My recommendation [in establishing a historical district] would be to use those plats, either the original town site or the first addition and original or all three,” Bies said, adding that usually in a district the timeframe is a period of importance for the city or district.

He said they need a starting point, such as the establishment of the first businesses, and then go to the start of the Depression or World War II.

Bies said most of the downtown structures “have good bones,” but are wired for 1921 and plumbed for 1940 “if you’re lucky.”

He added that the sizes of the downtown commercial buildings were also built for the early 1920s when “they would get shipments once or twice a year” and have to store product for a long time.

Currently the BAPC is working on setting up a meeting with SHPO representatives, city leaders and downtown business owners to discuss what is all involved with a historical district.

Cities in Wyoming with downtown historical districts, according to SHPO, include Laramie, Greybull, Rawlins, Lander, Thermopolis, Cheyenne, Cody, Rock Springs, Green River and Evanston.