(a) Properties located within historic districts are reviewed by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to determine if they contribute to the historic significance of the district by applying the following Standards for Evaluating Significance within Historic Districts:

1. (1) A building contributing to the historic significance of a district is one (1) that by location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association adds to the district's sense of time and place and historical development;

2. (2) A building not contributing to the historic significance of a district is one (1):

   1. (A) That does not add to the district's sense of time and place and historical development; or
   2. (B) Where the location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association have been so altered or have so deteriorated that the overall integrity of the building has been irretrievably lost; and

3. (3) Ordinarily, buildings that have been built within the past fifty (50) years shall not be considered to contribute to the significance of a district unless:

   1. (A) A strong justification concerning their historical or architectural merit is given; or
   2. (B) The historical attributes of the district are considered to be less than fifty (50) years old.

(b)

1. (1) A condemnation order may be presented as evidence of physical deterioration of a building but will not of itself be considered sufficient evidence to warrant certification of historic nonsignificance for loss of integrity.
2. (2) In certain cases it may be necessary for the owner to submit a structural engineer's report to help substantiate physical deterioration and/or structural damage.
3. (3) Guidance on preparing a structural engineer's report is available from the program.

(c)

1. (1) Some properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places, primarily districts, are resources whose concentration or continuity possesses greater historical significance than many of their individual component buildings and structures.
2. (2) These usually are documented as a group rather than individually.
3. (3) Accordingly, this type of National Register of Historic Places documentation is not conclusive for the purposes of determining eligibility and must be supplemented with information on the significance of the specific property.

4. (4) Certifications of historic significance and nonsignificance will be made on the basis of:

   1. (A) The application documentation;
   2. (B) Existing National Register of Historic Places documentation; and
   3. (C) Other available information as needed.
5. (5) The program may submit an amended National Register of Historic Places nomination to the National Park Service if the application material warrants such an amendment.

6. (6) If a certification request is received for a property that is not yet listed on the National Register of Historic Places or that is outside a district's established period or area of significance, a preliminary determination of eligibility will be issued only if:

   1. (A) The request includes adequate documentation; and
   2. (B) There is written assurance that the:

(i) Owner plans to nominate the property or district; or

1. (ii) District nomination in question is being revised to expand its significance.
2. (7) Certifications will become final when the property or district is listed or when the district documentation is officially amended, unless the historic significance of the property has been lost as a result of alteration or damage.

3. (8) For procedures on amending listings to the National Register of Historic Places and additional information on the use of National Register of Historic Places documentation, owners should contact the program.

   1. (d) Where rehabilitation credits are sought, certifications of eligibility will be made on the appearance and condition of the property before rehabilitation was begun.

(e)

1. (1) If a nonhistoric surface material obscures a facade, it may be necessary for the owner to remove a portion of the surface material prior to requesting certification so that a determination of historic significance or nonsignificance can be made.
2. (2) After the material has been removed, if the obscured facade has retained substantial historic integrity and the property otherwise contributes to the historic district, it will be determined to be an eligible property.