Jeff Speck Walkable Cities Webinar January 15th
We’re excited to start our 2014 Webinar Series with a nationally recognized speaker, Jeff Speck, author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time. His book delves into the practices that have become entrenched in our society, and he discusses what REALLY works to make out cities more livable. Speck is a city planner and architectural designer who, through writing, lectures, and built work, advocates internationally for smart growth and sustainable design. As Director of Design at the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 through 2007, he oversaw the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, a federal program that helps state governors fight suburban sprawl.
Heritage Ohio webinars are a benefit of membership. Click here to join Heritage Ohio
Heritage Ohio members may register for the webinar HERE
Special Improvement Districts- Rescheduled for August 28
Heritage Ohio members are invited to join Mark Lammon from the Downtown Cleveland Alliance for a discussion about Special Improvement Districts. This webinar will have three parts 1) creation of a special improvement district and technical assistance; 2) managing the relationship and implementing the district plan; and 3) expansion and relationships outside of the SID. To register members should click HERE
The Dollars and Sense of Rehabilitation: A Community Approach
Workshop Added Lebanon August 27, 2013
Join us for this workshop which prepares both the community and building owners to succeed at rehabilitating historic buildings.
Learn about building codes from an architect, hear a building owners testimonial to her experience, learn more about financing and structuring the deals and more about some of the funding options that are available including historic tax credits.
This workshop is designed for building owners, city staff and revitalization enthusiasts.
Link HERE to review the agenda and register.
The Dollars and Sense of Building Rehabilitation- Athens August 12, 2013
For communities and building owners who want to know more about successful building rehabilitation.
First the community needs to set the stage, and create an environment where building rehabilitation is understood and encouraged.
Second, building owners need to understand how to deal with historic buildings and what tools are available to help.
Learn how you can be more successful at rehabilitating your historic buildings.
Register for this workshop HERE
The Sweetest Things About Historic Preservation- Happy Valentines Day Preservationists!
1. The long forgotten buildings. I can’t get enough of touring decrepit forgotten pits on the verge of falling down, they all have a story, a history, people who built them, people who occupied them, the joys and sorrows expressed there. Who turned the key the day it was shuttered and walked away for the last time?
2. The rehabilitated buildings. I can’t get enough of touring the restored buildings, by the people who brought them back to life, the pride, incredible artistry and ingenuity once abandoned now restored. Places reborn for a new generation express so much hope and optimism.
3. Historic Theaters. I enjoy a lot of building types: barns, courthouses, schools, etc., but I do have a special soft spot for historic theaters. Theaters need the drama that historic interiors provide whether for music, cinema, or theater…they transport the experience of entertainment.
4. Historic Tax Credits. I will always support the incentives that put buildings back in circulation adding to our economy. I want to recruit new building owners to take advantage of the 10% or 20% federal credit and the 25% Ohio credit. You can do it!
5. Architects. The professionals with the vision to see what can be, and draw the vision so the rest of us can see it too. (and my husband is an architect -so I am sweet on him)
6. The Hidden Materials. Treasures uncovered! When old wallpaper is revealed or the scars of an old stairwell, the old light fixtures found in the attic, is that discovery not just the sweetest feeling ever?
7. Heritage Tourism. I have never traveled anywhere that I wasn’t checking out the houses, popping into public and commercial buildings just to see what is inside. I do plan my vacations around unique places to visit because they have retained integrity and inspiration.
8. Preservation Organizations. Whether local, national, or a statewide preservation organization, we are all working together so that we will have stronger cities, states and a stronger nation because we know who we are and we know our sense of place.
9. Main Street Approach. I can’t get enough of visiting our Main Street communities and meeting the volunteers and managers who give their heart and souls to their community, banding together to make their town a special place, they are so inspiring !
10. Preservation People. I can’t get enough of meeting and collaborating with those who are community minded, selflessly trying to make the world a place worth living. The people I meet in communities or at the national conferences who immediately “get you” and your passion, because they have it too.
Iconic historic communities, do they deserve historic protection?
Tonight a big decision is being made on a local historic district, which presents a good moment to reflect on our opinion regarding the issue.
Design review is an overlay, designed to protect property values – a property rights issue! In recent years opponents to design review have twisted the same language with success, it is about property rights, “I have the right to do whatever I want” …regardless of its impact on neighbors and their property values.
Tonight Mackinac Island will decide whether or not to enact a historic district with design review. That’s right; Mackinac Island the quaint historic isle in northern Michigan which has 1 million visitors annually via its heritage tourism economy has no “protection.”
Free of automobiles since 1898 to protect the charm, but not so for their built environment. Between 1970 and 2000 over 100 buildings were torn down. Cheap contemporary intrusions, vinyl siding and the like is allowed and proliferates. In 2008, the National Park Service put the island’s National Landmark status on a watch list, because there is no protection for historic structures and integrity is eroding. Last year the 125 year-old McNally Cottage on Main Street was torn down and a new motel was built (a design that many of us might question as being compatible). Now another large modern hotel is proposed to be built at the dock, large enough to block the view as you come onto the island. If it matters, by an investor who doesn’t live on the island.
If your economy was based on heritage tourism would you really leave it up to chance? Are they so confident that visitors will continue to come regardless of the historic integrity?
Truly the make-up of a community is not only about how much money can be made. Remember in “It’s a Wonderful Life” when Bedford Falls changed to Pottersville? Integrity is an issue for people, businesses and communities, particularly when being marketed as a historic community.
Ohio has 71 National Historic Landmark sites, see HERE, three of those are communities, Glendale, Mount Pleasant, and Mariemont, each have historic district review to protect the assets that define their community.
New developments use design review as do historic developments, to maintain property values, and in tourist destinations such as Charleston SC to protect the economy of the region as a whole.
What do you think ?
For the National Trust’s 10 Steps to Establish a Local Historic District link HERE
Ohio CDBG Proprosal Reinstates Downtown Grants in 2014
In February 2012 the Ohio Department of Development, Office of Community Development announced that they were suspending the downtown grants program, funded by CDBG monies. During the spring and summer of 2012, in addition to various testimony and hearings, the department put out a call for public participation to help shape the priorities for the use of dwindling CDBG appropriations. From that appeal, ten groups of eight were formed. There was a broad range of participation from elected officials, planning and community development staff, consultants, and both Joyce Barrett and Jeff Siegler from Heritage Ohio participated in separate work groups. These groups discussed the effectiveness of programs and needs of communities; how money was applied for, used and reported; what dollars were “formula” and which were grant driven; the thresholds that should be required, all within the context of the goals of and eligible activities of federal CDBG money. I think we all learned a lot about new areas.
In July the ten groups made presentations based on proposed ways to combine eliminate or create new programs. These people were genuinely interested in seeing that your limited federal tax dollars are maximized in Ohio to help low income populations and eliminate slum in blight in communities.
The recently renamed: Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Development took into consideration large volumes of suggestions, sorting and combining ideas that had common themes. Their CDBG Steering Committee met again in early October to review preliminary program design. The GOOD NEWS DOWNTOWN GRANTS ARE COMING BACK! Thanks to Heritage Ohio and many advocates from around the state, we were able to make the case that rebuilding the downtowns is critical to the health of a community. We do want to leverage private sector development and create a stronger tax base through increases in income, property and sales tax. All of which happen within downtown revitalization.
Heritage Ohio extends our appreciation for the Development Services Agency mobilizing a lot of community coordination to redesign their programs so that they will be effective and get the most bang for the buck here in Ohio.
Appalachia Heritage Luncheon at the Statehouse
Today, Heritage Ohio co-hosted along with Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area, our 2nd Annual Appalachia Heritage Luncheon at the Statehouse. The purpose of the luncheon was to introduce successful projects to Ohio legislators and to show them how cultural programs are having a positive impact on the Appalachia economy. Thirteen speakers shared success stories ranging from Main Street to historic tax credits to singing the Paw-Paw song. It was inspiring.
The stories of success can be applied anywhere in Ohio. Using the cultural assets in your community will help distinguish your strengths and enhance your identity, making your community more competitive in our ever-changing economy. Those places that choose to be all things to all people become so generic they have lost their soul.
The luncheon was recorded via the Ohio Channel and will be available for viewing at www.ohiochannel.org beginning 9/27/12.
Thanks go to hosts Sen. Tim Schaffer (District 31) and Jason Wilson, Director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia for their support. Thanks also goes to the wonderful insiders tour provided by Bob Loversidge, architect of the statehouse.
This event has grown in importance – watch for your invitation to a bigger event in Fall of 2013.
To paraphrase eloquent speaker Julie Zickefoose: Appalachia’s wealth is on top of the shale.
Ohio History Fund
Everyone involved in Ohio history activities, from archivists, to collections, to building preservation is excited to finally have the Ohio History Fund, created by the donations of Ohioan’s at tax time. We each now have the opportunity to contribute various amount when we file our Ohio Tax Returns. Thousands of dollars will be available through this grant program. If you are interested in applying, link here to read more about the fund, and then submit a letter of intent to apply to get the process started.
Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits Round 9 Now Open for Applications
The application period for Round 9 of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is now open. The application form and self-scoring sheet can be downloaded under ‘General Program Forms’ on the program website: http://development.ohio.gov/Urban/OHPTC/. A total of $30 million in tax credit allocation is currently available for Round 9 applicants.
All applicants are required to schedule pre-application meetings with both the Office of Redevelopment and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office prior to submitting an application. Applicants are encouraged to contact both offices early in the application submission period to schedule the meetings to ensure availability. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office can be contacted by calling 614-298-2000.
Please note that applications must be submitted (not postmarked) to the Office of Redevelopment by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 1, 2012.
Round 9 will be administered on the following schedule:
– Application Submission Deadline: October 1, 2012
– Application Review Period: October 2 – December 17, 2012
– Approved Applications Announced: on or before December 31, 2012
Please contact Nathaniel Kaelin at nathaniel.kaelin@development.ohio.gov if you have any questions about the application and to schedule a pre-application meeting. Thank you for your interest in the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.
Seneca County Courthouse Webcam
Live Cam from Seneca County Courthouse demolition
A sad day for all of Ohio; the demolition of Seneca County Courthouse scheduled to begin today. A day that will be regretted by Ohioans for decades.