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Neighborhood Could Be Added To National Historic Registry

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Not just one building, but an entire city neighborhood in Sacramento could be placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Some of the homes in Boulevard Park are already in the history books.

"I love living here; I love the neighborhood. We've been restoring it for seven years now," said Rob Sperling.

Boulevard Park is twelve square blocks in midtown Sacramento. Most of the homes and storefronts have been here dating back to 1905.

"And I can remember when I was about 6 years old. I got caught stealing a candy bar in there," said long-time resident Larry Duff.

Now this neighborhood could get on the same list as the state capitol, the National Register of Historic Places.

"It would be good," said Asha Jennings, chair of the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association.

The community recently fought the building of a modern three-story home. Getting the neighborhood registered historic could put an end to similar feuds in the future.

"I would hope so," said Sperling.

There are several distinguished homes in the neighborhood, but none more striking than the one on the corner of 21st and G Streets built in 1909 by George Selland, a master architect who also built the building housing the Citizen Hotel. He also was the architect of San Quentin State Prison.

And the home on the corner of F and 22nd Streets was built in 1913 for the vice president of an insurance company. For a little while it was also used as a missionary training institute.

And you've probably seen the house on the corner of H and 22nd Streets, the so-called haunted house. Initially it was built in 1907 for Doctor Aiden Hart, one of the founders of Sutter Hospital.

The history is already here.

"It would be a great honor for the neighborhood," said Jennings.

Next is national notoriety. The neighborhood was established in 1905, but it could get quite the distinction in 2011.

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