Medina, OH Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

Medina's cultural-monument equivalent is the Historic Landmark designation created by Chapter 145 of the Codified Ordinances. 08, the Historic Preservation Board applies eight criteria when considering whether to designate a place, building, structure, work of art or similar object as a Historic Landmark or Historic District: its connection to the City's, State's or nation's development and heritage; whether it was the site of a significant historical event; identification with a person who significantly contributed to the City's culture and development; exemplification of cultural, economic, social or historic heritage; portrayal of a distinctive architectural era; embodiment of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship of significant character; relationship to other distinctive preservation-eligible areas; and unique physical characteristics representative of an established neighborhood or City feature.

09 sets the designation procedure: a property or group of properties may be nominated by an individual, a group, or by the Board itself. For an individual Historic Landmark nomination, the property owner must approve it. A proposed Historic District can be blocked only if disapproval comes from more than twenty-five percent of the property owners within it, with each owner getting one vote regardless of how many properties, or what portion of one, they own. 08 criteria (documenting at least one criterion met), and forwards a recommendation to City Council, which gives due consideration to the Board's findings before making the final designation decision.

05 already names Public Square, bounded by Smith Road, Jefferson Street, Friendship Street and Elmwood Avenue, as the City's Public Square Historic District. Both the criteria and the procedure sections were adopted by Ordinance 179-21, passed December 13, 2021.