national register nomination for boulevard park historic

Hamer outlines the history of historic districts as a four-stage process. The first
stage represents the “original” history, defined as the period used to establish the
significance of the district for purposes of its nomination as a historic district. The second
stage is the history of what happened to a district between the end of the established
period of significance and the point when the district was determined to be historic. The
third stage is the interaction between the district and the forces that led it to be
nominated. The fourth stage is the history of the district after its establishment as a
historic district. 34
The history represented in and by historic districts, argues Hamer, is a selective
history, applying only to specific eras and populations. Districts based on specific eras
sometimes experience demolition of buildings outside their period of significance,
resulting in damage to the urban fabric or Disneyland-like idealized simulation of a
historical era. Districts based on planned elite or exclusive communities tend to have
dramatic architecture and clear boundaries, making them ideal candidates for historic
preservation districts. Their exclusive nature presents a highly selective view of historic
housing. The history of these neighborhoods during periods of decline or population shift
is not considered significant in the context of the historic district. If a formerly elegant
neighborhood became the home of poorer communities after its original inhabitants
moved on to newer suburbs, their effects on the community are often discounted or
ignored. The houses and neighborhoods of those who could not afford to live in these
communities are generally not selected for historic districts. After designation occurs,
34 Hamer, History in Urban Places, p. 12-25
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