In a city like Tacoma, where it’s difficult to walk through a neighborhood without passing beneath the classical columns or gothic towers of churches dating back a half-century and more, it’s hard to believe that only seven churches are included on the city’s register of historic places.

That could change.

A project currently under way is taking stock of the city’s 200 churches, identifying which buildings could be eligible for historic designation, and providing recommendations to City Hall for assisting congregations in saving their significant buildings.

“Churches definitely dominate the city,” said Caroline T. Swope of Kingstree Studios during a presentation to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Wednesday. Kingstree is conducting the comprehensive inventory, which is the first phase of a larger effort by Historic Tacoma to work with congregations and raise awareness of preserving Tacoma’s old churches. The project is funded by grants totalling $22,000.

According to information provided during the meeting, an estimated 57 churches could be eligible for landmark designations, and six major architectural styles define Tacoma’s churches: Classical Revival; Romanesque Revival; Gothic Revival; Mission Revival; Modern; and Vernacular (or neighborhood folks churches).

Urban ministries in Tacoma and nationwide are struggling to maintain their historic structures in light of declining membership and decreased revenues, according to Historic Tacoma. Swope added that vacant or decaying buildings impact neighborhood property values, crime rates, and potential development. And whereas private property owners are motivated to landmark their buildings to benefit from special tax valuations, there is little financial incentive for nominating a church for landmark designation because churches are exempt from property taxes.

Swope offered preliminary recommendations for how the city could assist congregations in saving their churches:

— Help congregations stay in their existing buildings;

— Help growing congregations transfer into existing historic churches;

— Find new uses for vacant religious structures.

The comprehensive study is ongoing and will be discussed again in the future by the LPC.

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