2011 Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places

The historic home at 1600 Northwest 16th Street in Oklahoma City  is an unusual property to be recognized on the Endangered List; it has no known story of unique significance; it has no known imminent threat. However, this house is emblematic of so many of historic homes across Oklahoma’s communities, at risk of being lost purely to the passage of time and the challenges faced by the average property owner.

This home, like thousands of others, is within a National Register district; in this case, the Gatewood East Historic District. Contrary to popular opinion, not every National Register district is replete with immaculately restored homes, and designation is accompanied by neither easy access to funding for restoration, nor regulation to ensure that homes are maintained and preserved. The few resources that are available to assist with preservation, such as tax credits and grants, are generally not available to the owners of private homes. 1600 NW 16th Street is a prime example of this, as the years have wiped away architectural detail and left boarded-up windows hidden by overgrowth.  While no particular threat looms, laws related to the demolition of buildings considered to be dilapidated could pose a danger to homes such as this. Despite the resurgence of the nearby Plaza District, and a good deal of preservation going on in the surrounding area, there are few safety nets in place to catch such a charming, but tragically typical, historic home.

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