Historic Landmark Designation

Preserve the Past. Inspire the Future.


Why Designate?

Your home or commercial property may be more than just real estate—it may be a vital chapter in Lyons’ story. Local historic landmark designation helps preserve the craftsmanship, stories, and settings that define Lyons' unique identity, while offering meaningful support to the stewards of these places. Local historic designation is voluntary. It doesn’t impose burdens—it offers recognition, thoughtful protection, and new opportunities.

Historic preservation is not about stopping change—it's about guiding it in a way that respects the past while building for the future.


The Value of Local Designation

Historic designation offers value at multiple levels—personal, community-wide, and financial.

🧱 Preserve Character & Craftsmanship

  • Protect original architectural features and materials that tell Lyons’ story—sandstone foundations, hand-built trim, locally quarried stonework.

  • Retain and restore with integrity using time-tested standards backed by expert guidance.

🏡 Reinforce Community Identity

  • Strengthen Lyons’ distinct sense of place—our history is part of what draws visitors and makes Lyons home.

  • Join a network of landmarked properties showcased through walking tours, educational programs, and preservation events.

💰 Tap into Financial Incentives

  • Colorado State Tax Credit Program
    Designated residential properties may qualify for up to 35% in income tax credits for approved preservation work.

  • Access State Preservation Grants
    Designated properties are eligible for funding through History Colorado’s State Historical Fund, one of the nation’s largest preservation grant programs.

  • Boost Property Value Through Stewardship
    Studies have shown that well-maintained and designated historic properties often retain or increase in value at higher rates than non-designated counterparts.


What Is Local Designation?

Local historic landmark designation is an official recognition by the Town of Lyons that your property has special historic, architectural, or cultural significance. Designation places the property on the Town’s local landmark register and opens access to financial incentives and design guidance.

This designation applies only to the exterior of the property, and only to alterations subject to building permits. Routine maintenance, painting, interior updates, and many landscaping changes do not require review.



Does My Property Qualify?

Properties in Lyons are eligible if they:

  • Are at least 50 years old, or exceptionally significant;

  • Retain historic integrity—original materials, setting, workmanship;

  • Meet one or more of the following criteria:

    • Association with events or people significant to Lyons’ history;

    • Represent distinctive architectural styles or local craftsmanship;

    • Embody the spirit or pattern of development of the community;

    • Are a source of historic or archaeological information;

    • Reflect the work of a significant builder or architect.

Still not sure? The Historic Preservation Commission can offer informal feedback before you apply.



Design Review & Ongoing Stewardship

After Designation: What to Expect

  • Remain privately owned and maintained;

  • Continue to be used, sold, or passed down as any other property;

  • Become eligible for state preservation grants and tax credits;

  • Exterior changes are reviewed using preservation best practices

Design Review: Preserving Character, Not Preventing Change

The Town uses the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards as a flexible guide to ensuring work is compatible.

“Preservation is not about freezing time. It’s about celebrating and sustaining what makes Lyons uniquely Lyons.”
 — Lyons Historic Preservation Commission



How to Designate Your Property

The process is straightforward and supportive:

Step 1: Prepare and Submit an Application

  • Includes photos, a description, and a $25 application fee

  • Submit by email or to Town Hall

Step 2: HPC Review & Public Hearing

  • The Historic Preservation Commission evaluates the nomination

  • A public hearing is held to invite comment and recommendation

Step 3: Town Decision

  • The Lyons Board of Trustees makes the final designation decision


Ready to Apply Now?

✔️ Download the Application Form (PDF)



Designation Is Protection with Purpose

Once designated, your property becomes part of a bigger story. It helps:

  • Prevent incompatible alterations or demolition;

  • Shape the future of Lyons' historic built environment;

  • Educate, inspire, and connect new generations to the past.

You’re not alone in this work. Lyons is a Certified Local Government (CLG), which means we partner with History Colorado and the National Park Service to offer support, resources, and funding to our local stewards.



Understanding the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards

When your property is locally designated in Lyons, exterior changes are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission to ensure they align with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation—the nationally recognized best practices for working with historic buildings.

These Standards are not rigid rules, but flexible guidelines that help property owners:

  • Preserve original features and materials where possible

  • Make changes that are compatible with the property’s historic character

  • Use modern materials and techniques in a respectful way

Following the Standards is a requirement for state tax credits and State Historical Fund grants, and ensures that local changes align with broader preservation principles.

Key Principles of the Standards

  1. Respect the Original Fabric
    Maintain and repair rather than replace distinctive features like windows, doors, porches, and stonework.

  2. Avoid Conjecture
    Don’t “guess” what a building once looked like—let evidence guide you.

  3. Preserve Historic Character
    Any new additions or changes should not overpower the original structure.

  4. Make New Additions Reversible
    New work should be designed so it can be removed without damaging the historic structure.

  5. Don’t Fake History
    Avoid trying to make something look older than it is—honesty in materials and design is key.

  6. Compatible ≠ Identical
    New work should be clearly new, but blend in through scale, materials, and design cues.

You can view the full text of the Secretary’s Standards for Rehabilitation here:
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/secretary-standards-treatment-historic-properties.htm 



Examples in Lyons

  • Preserving a 1920s sandstone cottage: Repairing original stone lintels and repointing mortar with compatible material rather than removing or covering the façade.

  • Updating a 1940s commercial storefront: Replacing a missing awning with one that matches the original in scale and placement, but uses new materials.

  • Adding a rear porch to a historic home: Designing the addition so it is clearly modern, but does not alter or obscure the original roofline or windows.



Resources & Contacts

Contact the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC):

Sarah Lorang, HPC Chair
hpcchair@townoflyons.com


Town Staff:

Kristen Bruckner, Arts and Cultural Services Coordinator

kbruckner@townoflyons.com



Preserve Lyons. One Building at a Time.

Start the conversation.
Download the Application (PDF) or contact us today.