Have you checked out the Building Technology Heritage Library?
When it comes to historic preservation weaknesses, I have a few (ie, many). And right up at the top of the list are plan books. These historical publications may have covered contemporary house plans, painting palettes, or more esoteric subjects such as cast iron storefronts. As an example, Sears was going all out during the first half of the 20th century, hawking their “Honor-Bilt” homes in their ubiquitous catalogs.
I love perusing these plan books because they provide great insight on what people were building or using, and can provide good rehabilitation inspiration. So, you can imagine my excitement at being reminded about the Building Technology Heritage Library, the multi-year project from the Association for Preservation Technology to digitize these resources and make them available through the Internet Archive. Now, all you need is an internet connection to review the Sears 1936 catalog (go ahead, see what Sears had to offer here) and literally thousands more. Happy online reading!
Call for Conference Session Proposals
Heritage Ohio is currently planning for our Annual Conference to be held in Columbus October 5-7, 2015. If you have a session that might be interesting to our audience of revitalization & preservation advocates and professionals link HERE for our proposal guidelines, proposals will be accepted through February 28.
Nominations open for Heritage Ohio's Annual Awards
Earlier this week we opened our call for nominations for the Heritage Ohio 2014 Annual Awards. The annual awards recognize the best in the state for historic preservation and downtown revitalization in categories such as Best Public/Private Partnership, Spirit of Main Street, Best Commercial Rehabilitation, and (new this year) Historic Farmstead of the Year! You can learn more about the award categories here.
We will accept award submissions through Friday, May 23, with judging in June. We’ll honor the award winners at a special ceremony during our Annual Conference in Kent on September 23.
So, if you have a project or person that deserves special recognition in the world of historic preservation or downtown revitalization, we invite you to complete and submit a nomination form for judging. Good luck!
Appalachia Heritage 3 Minute Success Story Nominations
The Appalachia Heritage Luncheon was conceived by Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area and Heritage Ohio as an opportunity to share the many diverse successes that highlight the past and future of Ohio’s Appalachia Region. Selected project representatives each present their projects’ story, providing exposure to many successes in Appalachia.
Nominations are now being accepted to present 3-minute success stories of projects which have created, enhanced, preserved and/or improved the value and understanding of Ohio’s Appalachia Heritage, and as a result improved quality of life, created meaningful employment or entrepreneurial opportunities to be presented at the 2014 Appalachia Heritage Luncheon, held in the Ohio’s Capital Building Rotunda.
To nominate a project fill out this form Appalachia Heritage Success Stories Nomination Form
Ohio DSA announces Round 11 tax credit recipients
Today the Ohio Development Services Agency announced that 31 buildings in 10 different communities received allocations of the Round 11 tax credits. As in past rounds, the credits were divided for projects throughout the state (although the northwest and southeast regions were absent from this round). While few dispute the power of the credits in making multi-million dollar rehabilitation projects possible (with three separate projects taking the maximum $5 million per project), the state continues to work to make sure smaller projects don’t fall through the cracks. This round of credits included a $65,000 rehab project in Wilmington. The Wilmington project is slated to receive $13,825. You can read the ODSA press release here.
The Big Give is back!
The Columbus Foundation’s Big Give is back!
Starting at 11 a.m. EST on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 through Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 11 a.m. EST, all donations to Heritage Ohio, and 600 nonprofits, will receive a pro rata portion of a $1 million dollar bonus pool.
Make a donation* of $20 or more to support Heritage Ohio through the Big Give between 11am on Tuesday September 17 to 11am Wednesday September 18 3013 and you’ll be entered into a drawing for some fabulous Heritage Ohio prizes! Stay tuned for more information. Donations through The Big Give are not applicable to membership dues or event fees, but are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
The Big Give is a 24-hour online giving event to celebrate The Spirit of Columbus.™ The Columbus Foundation, its family of donors, and community partners have provided a $1 million bonus pool for The Big Give, encouraging the community to support the nonprofits they care about in central Ohio. By working together, our community can show its spirit and increase the impact of its giving!
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
Here's your chance to win Troy Stopover passes!
That’s right! The Gentlemen of the Road Troy Stopover is happening August 30-31, and we’re saying “Thank you!” to our Facebook friends and Heritage Ohio members. You have a chance to win two passes (camping passes also included) by entering our contest below. In the comments section below just let us know which Ohio Treasure you would save and why, and you’re entered. Anyone who has liked us on Facebook and is a current Heritage Ohio member is eligible to win! If you’re not yet a member, you can easily and quickly join online here. If you haven’t like us on Facebook yet, you can do so here.
Our contest closes one week from today, Monday, August 19, at 5pm and we’ll announce the winner Monday at 6pm. Good luck!
Preservation Month…See! Save! Celebrate!
It’s May, so you know what that means: Preservation Month!
This year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has chosen the theme “See! Save! Celebrate!” to help spur the creative juices when it comes to highlighting preservation in your community. Here are three ways you can recognize Preservation Month in your community using the Trust’s theme.
See! Architectural Scavenger Hunt
What better way to get your residents to take a fresh look at your historic resources than by holding an architectural scavenger hunt? Long-time residents may see your historic neighborhoods in a new light, and new residents may be interested in a fun activity such as this to learn more about a community’s special buildings.
The idea is to identify unique architectural features that make your historic buildings special (elaborate window designs, stained glass transoms, intricate cornices) and then to publish a guide of the features. Contestants then investigate the neighborhood to match the feature to the building and its location, and enter a drawing for a prize. The prize doesn’t have to be especially elaborate. A popular item I’ve seen is gift certificates to community businesses for the winner.
Save! Hold a special lecture on the importance of historic preservation
Whether you’re focused on the benefits of preserving historic wooden windows, or the architectural history of your community, preservation at its heart is about preserving the special, unique qualities of our built environment. Your historic buildings and neighborhoods are absolutely unique to your community, and your residents will care so much more about your historic stock when they learn what it is about a building’s architecture and history that makes it unique.
In Main Street we’re always selling the importance of using existing assets as the foundation of building a great revitalization program, so let people know about your historic assets. What exactly provides the character that makes your town unlike any other? An old building that’s just known as an old building is too easy to forget and neglect, but a building with stories and architectural character can become a landmark and a source of preservation pride.
Celebrate! Recognize your community’s preservation accomplishments with an awards ceremony
Recognize recent building rehabs, tireless volunteers, and leadership organizations with a special ceremony, giving your recipients a chance to take a victory lap in front of their peers and neighbors. Preservation Awards hardly ever include a cash prize, but that’s ok because public recognition is a powerful way to say “thank you” to someone who is raising the profile of preservation in your community.
To add some weight to the awards process, look at partnering with another entity. For example, the Michigan SHPO partners with the governor’s office to present the “Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation.” The ceremony is held at the state capitol and you can bet recipients feel honored to be recognized in such an important setting.
Heritage Ohio is celebrating May as Preservation Month in a couple different ways. We’re holding our annual photography contest (and we’ve extended the deadline for entries to May 24), and we will honor the best accomplishments in preservation & revitalization at our Annual Awards Luncheon on May 23, during our annual conference. We hope you’ll submit a photo, join us in Columbus at our Annual Awards Luncheon, or participate in a local Preservation Month activity as we all work to raise the profile of preservation in Ohio.
Combating Vacant Property Workshop
If you missed the vacant property workshop or you’d like to review the materials, you can find them all below.
The Legal Approach to Nuisance Property – Matthew Yourkvitch, esq.
The Cost of Vacant Property & Solutions You Can Use – Alison Goebel, Ph.D.
Sandusky’s Vacant Property Registry – Sandusky Fire Inspector Stephen Rucker
- Sandusky Vacant Property Ordinance
- Vacant/Abandoned Building Evaluation Form
- Commercial/Industrial Vacant Building Plan
Painesville Vacant Property Registry – Doug Lewis and Cathy Bieterman
You're invited to join us at the Cash Mob Wine Tasting!
I hope you’re planning to join us next Thursday in downtown Wooster for our Cash Mob Wine Tasting, a joint benefit for SoMar Wine Cellars, Main Street Wooster, and Heritage Ohio (info on the particulars here) for just $20.
When is getting mobbed a good thing? When it’s a Cash Mob descending upon a downtown retailer. There’s something special about thanking a local retailer in an intimate setting for his or her efforts to make the downtown a better place to live, work, shop, and play.
We think the following quote from Robert Mondavi aptly represents both the value of wine, and the value of nonprofit organizations helping people here in Ohio to live better: “Wine is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence of civilization and the art of living.”
We look forward to seeing you in Wooster next week!
PS Did you know that the concept of the Cash Mob began right here in Ohio (even though the term was first used in New York state)? This webpage has details about the concept, what it means, and how the event may evolve and change in the future.
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.