From the Federal perspective (the National Register of Historic Places is part of the National Park Service), a property owner can do whatever they want with their property as long as there are no Federal monies attached to the property.
I think you probably mean the metaphor of piercing eyes, it means someone who has a really intense look in their eyes. Sometimes it could be that the colour of their eyes is quite different, like a really icy blue colour. piercing eyes are eyes that can see straight through a person. SUPP is right.
The primary meaning of eye is that of the organ of sight in humans and other animals. Sight is perhaps the most fundamental sense in humans. Eyes are associated with vision in descriptions like prying eyes and sharp eyes, and observation in all eyes, a watchful eye, and keeping an eye on someone. When we are attracted to someone, eye develops the sense 'ogle' in eye someone up. The ability to discriminate with the eyes has led to the meaning of appreciation and taste, particularly in the visual sphere, e.g. an eye for colour, design, detail, quality, and style.