Last month’s newsletter detailed the process of renovating the Hart Park Adobe House. Another step in the process has been completed. The California State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) has concurred with the County of Kern and Chattel’s determination that the Hart Park Adobe House is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register). This notification does not technically list the Hart Park Adobe House in the National Register, as that requires a separate and more rigorous process. However, concurrence is a consensus determination between SHPO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, this concurrence has automatically listed the Hart Park Adobe House in the California Register of Historical Resources (California Register) under 14 California Code of Regulations (CCR) Part 4851(a)(1).
The next step is to complete and submit the schematic design drawings along with Finding of Effect report for SHPO review and final concurrence. The schematic drawings are expected to be completed today by Kern County Construction Services and we expect to submit the drawings to Chattel (the contracted historical architectural firm) to review, and then a subsequent review by local citizens. Concurrent with this, the Kern River Parkway Foundation is committed to leasing the Adobe House to open it as an Interpretive Center. A tentative lease agreement should occur this month, now that the County budgeting process has finished.