To the editor:

If the State Historic Preservation Officer approves all of the national historic district nominations recently proposed by the City of Lawrence, much of the modestly priced older housing here will become subject to historic regulation, the benefits of which are available only to a few choice properties designated as “contributing” properties.

The rest of us will struggle to comply with historic standards every time we try to improve our homes. Every exterior change is subject to review, even changes that we used to be able to make without building permits. The approval process can take months.

Contractors willing to work with frustrating historic regulations aren’t cheap. Professional help or special-order material is often required to satisfy the subjective judgment of the Historic Resources Commissioners in interpreting the often-vague historic preservation standards.

Read the minutes of their meetings on the city’s web site if you want a preview of how hard it can be to please them.

Properties within 500 feet of a historic district or property will also be subject to historic regulation. Although the standards are looser in the environs, the process of approval remains the same.

Affordable housing is hard enough to find in Lawrence. Forcing historic regulation on modest homes in the environs of the historic districts will only serve to make affordable housing even scarcer.

The strong real estate market here provides all the incentive that’s needed for owners of older homes to maintain and preserve them. We don’t need more historic districts.

Niki Christopher,

Lawrence