Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on the Request by Traci Paulette for Approval of a Historic Marker for the Property Located at 620 W Virginia Street
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Enhance the Quality of Life in McKinney
MEETING DATE: August 6, 2026
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Planning Department
CONTACT: Rayna Alam, Historic Preservation Planner I
Cassie Bumgarner, Planning Manager
RECOMMENDED HPAB ACTION:
• Staff recommends approval of this Historic Marker application.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• The applicant requests approval of a Historic Marker under the HNIZ Program for the property located at 620 W Virginia Street.
• To be eligible for a historic marker under the HNIZ program, residential properties must meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the program, providing specific information with the historic marker application.
• Specifically, the applicant must provide the following with an application for a historic marker:
o A written documented history.
o Verification that the building is a minimum of 50 years of age.
o Verification that the residential property is located within the HNIZ boundary.
o Photo documentation of all four elevations using black and white or color photographs and copies of any available historic photographs.
o Legal description of the property with a location map.
o A site plan of the property shall be provided, if available.
o Additional information as deemed necessary by the Director of Planning or their designee.
• Staff has reviewed the request and has found that it meets the minimum eligibility requirements of the HINZ program for a historic marker.
The home is listed as a medium priority building in the 2023 Historic Resources Survey. Medium priority buildings are defined as contributing significantly to local history or broader historical patterns, but alterations have diminished the resource’s integrity; is a significant example of architecture, engineering or crafted design; is an outstanding example of a common local building form, architectural style or type; is a modern or recent landmark not old enough to be judged in a historical context.
Construction and alterations to the property:
• The Sims Cameron House was built c.1892-1897 as a one-and-a-half story in the Queen Anne Style
• Wood frame
• Pier-and-beam foundation
• Modified L-plan
• A bedroom/sleeping porch was added to the second floor in 1935
• Extensive renovation in 2014 included a front porch extension which wrapped the porch around the southeast corner and adding fish-scale shingles to the exterior of the second story addition
History of the home and people associated with the property:
• Original house built for Frank E Wilcox and was located at 618 W Louisiana St
• House was purchased by Joe Barnes in 1904
• House was purchased by Sims Cameron in 1914 and moved the house to its current location at 620 W Virginia St
• Mr. Cameron made major renovations to the house in 1935
• Mr. Cameron passed away in 1958 and his wife Jennie remained in the house until her death in 1964
• The Cameron heirs sold the house in 1965 and it changed hands several times after that until the current owners purchased it in 2021
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone (HNIZ) Program was established in 2008 for the purpose of preserving the city’s unique and historic neighborhoods while encouraging property owners to maintain and/or rehabilitate residential properties and structures.
• The HNIZ Program includes a three-tiered incentive structure whereby residential properties that meet specified criteria are eligible to receive ad valorem tax exemptions on city taxes for a designated period.
• To be eligible for an HNIZ Program incentive, the following minimum general requirements apply:
o The property shall be located within the HNIZ Program area.
o The property shall be owner-occupied and shall maintain a homestead exemption from the Collin Central Appraisal District for the life of the incentive period.
o Verified, eligible improvements shall have received all necessary permits and approvals, including COAs.
o The structure, accessory structures, grounds, property elements and building elements with their materials and finishes have been maintained in good repair and in operable condition.
o There are no pending code violations.
o The total ad valorem taxes owed to the city must be current and paid on time.
• The historic marker is one of the requirements for the Marker Level incentive of the HNIZ program.
• Under Ordinance #2022-03-036, if the HPAB approves the Marker, the applicant will be responsible for purchasing and displaying the Historic Marker.