In 1872, city leaders set out 370 acres as the Grass Valley townsite — which, since then, has seen new building, fire, more new building, demolition and remodeling.

On Wednesday, their modern counterparts will hold a workshop to discuss a draft ordinance designed to preserve what remains of historical value for the future.

The 1872 townsite include 1,165 lots and 1,928 buildings — including some of the city's most beautiful buildings and its cheapest housing. Within that area, 548 properties have been rated as most valuable for historic preservation, wrote city Planning Director Tom Last.

The draft ordinance would require those property owners to get city approval before tearing down or making significant changes to their buildings.

“Since 2007, the city has completed a series of steps intended to enhance the historic values of the 1872 townsite,” Last wrote. “One of the key steps was to rank each property's historical value with a 1 to 4 rating, with number 1 having the highest historic value.

“The draft historic preservation ordinance includes a process to protect, enhance and preserve all properties rated as a 1 or 2 within the historical resources inventory,” Last added.

The draft ordinance includes criteria on the designation and listing of historical resources, an evaluation and review process for exterior alterations, additions, remodeling and repairs, and information on the relocation or demolition of historic resources, Last wrote.

The draft ordinance was developed by members of the city's Historic Preservation Subcommittee. The workshop will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at City Hall, 125 E. Main St., downtown.

Visit www.CityofGrassValley.com and click on “What's New/Historic Preservation” to read the ordinance.

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To contact Senior Staff Writer Trina Kleist, e-mail tkleist@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4230.