Living in Historic Plant City

By Cierra Craft

Plant City has three historic districts: Plant City’s Northeast Residential District, Downtown Plant City Commercial Historic District, and Downtown Plant City Historic District.

According to the Plant City Historic District Design Standards, “Plant City’s unique historical fabric and architectural flavor have had many influences, from the early pioneers to the present-day settlers.” Many homes feature themes from the early twentieth century and come in various styles.

This feature explores those architectural styles and explores the question: Why should people live in Plant City’s historic districts?

Living in a historic district isn’t for everyone, and it’s estimated that 1% of Plant City residents live in the historic districts. But, living in a historic district has its benefits:

Walkability to the downtown core often draws people into historic neighborhoods. As cities spread over time, the older homes are centered around the downtown core. Plant City’s residential historic districts are walkable and bikeable to the historic commercial district.

Across dozens of studies, homes in historic districts have higher appreciation rates. Potential drivers of higher home prices are the guarantee that homes will largely remain unchanged. Those that are changed must follow the historic design guideline standards outlined by the City of Plant City.

“The goals of these Historic District Design Standards are to provide advice and assistance to property owners, building professionals, and City officials, and to provide Standards for maintaining, rehabilitating, and preserving historic buildings, structures, objects, and appurtenances within Plant City’s architecturally and historically significant historic districts,” states the Plant City Historic District Design Standards guidelines. “...These Standards are a set of principles, not a set of strictly followed laws.”

Those living or working in the city’s three historic districts cannot make any visual or material changes to a property without first obtaining a “Certificate of Appropriateness” from the Design Review Official or Historical Resources Board. Examples include changing exterior wall material or adding, removing, or covering windows or doors, awning or shutters, transoms or side lights, decorative details, and storm or screen doors. All new construction, relocations, or demolitions must be approved.

Charm and character also draw people to homes in historic districts. Houses in a historic district tend to have more one-of-a-kind features, including architectural details and craftsmanship. Shelby Bender of the Historic Resources Board says there has been a trend to move into historic districts as residents don’t want “cookie-cutter” homes. Homes from Florida’s Land boom of the 1920s and post-war 1950s are often unembellished.

Bender also points out the charm extends into the streets and its features:

“In our historic district, you see brick streets, granite curbs, large oak and magnolia trees, front porches, and large lawns.”

Historic districts tend to have less home ownership turnover and a more significant proportion of residents who have lived in their homes for a decade or longer. This increases civic participation and pride.

Plant City’s two residential historic districts feature several architectural styles spanning decades.

Herring, Wheeler, Palmer, and Tever streets bind Plant City’s Northeast Residential Historic District, listed in the National Register for Historic

Places in May 1993. Just north of the historic commercial downtown, many homes were unaltered and built in the early 1900s, before 1930. Homes in this district are primarily Bungalows, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival, and there are a few Queen Anne homes in this district.

The Downtown Plant City Historic Residential District is bound by Drane, Franklin, Thomas, Tever, and Carey streets and is the largest of the historic districts, with 200 homes. Homes in this district are Frame Vernacular to grand Colonial and American Foursquare houses. Bungalows and Wood Frame Vernacular make up over 70% of the dwellings in the district. Only one home in the entire section was built before the 1900s: 207 N. Franklin Street, constructed in 1887. Homes in this district concentrate primarily on the 1910s and 1930s.

The Meldrim House, at the northwest corner of Howard and Reynolds streets, was constructed in 1913 by local lumber magnate James Wynn Meldrim, according to Images of America Plant City by the East Hillsborough Historical Society.

The book continues: “The Queen Anne style home includes influences of the Colonial Revival style. The wrap-around veranda features tapered square wood columns atop brick piers and turned balusters and conveyed the warmth and hospitality of the ‘old south.’ Stained glass, and marble and architectural millwork have been restored and retained with recent renovations to the home. An original carriage house for the family’s buggy was located to the rear of the property. Although just a short distance from town, the family would have used their carriage when making a social or business outing when they so desired. Many a fine lawn and garden party or social tea was held at the Meldrim Home.”