In a new list, just out today, the National Park Service officially designated a "Lawrence Park Historic District."

And for the Lawrence Park Historical Society, it's a long time coming.

The historical society hired a consultant to help them make the case that the town was built by General Electric as an "industrial village."  

The boundaries for the district roughly run from East Lake Road to Bell Street, and from Lawrence Parkway to Smithson Avenue.

Municipal planner, John Nolan, helped to lay out the town after GE broke ground in 1910 and started building homes in 1912.

The man you see there is the former president, and current secretary of the historical society, Jim Van Dyne.

He showed us around the district.

From the town's distinct row houses to buildings on Main Street, and homes considered "upper class" at the time.

Van Dyne believes this new designation will be good for future business.

“We're all facing a future that might be difficult with economics changes.” Van Dyne said “And there's maybe going to be a reduction in employment over at General Electric,  It'd be nice to have other businesses here in Lawrence Park, and that's what we're getting."

 Along with business, Van Dyne tells Erie News Now, he hopes the designation can attract new residents and grant money to help maintain those historic properties.