Heritage Ohio issues RFP for Franklinton (Columbus) religious resources history & architecture survey
Heritage Ohio is pleased to announce a Request For Proposals to complete a history & architecture survey in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. You can learn more and access the RFP here. Proposals are due no later than January 19, 2024.
Webinar: Historic Properties and Affordable Housing in Ohio’s Appalachia Region
Wednesday, January 17th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Most small towns in rural Ohio are blighted by older homes in varying states of dilapidation. Many of these homes are no longer occupied or even occupiable. Often these houses, while perhaps lacking in historical significance, nonetheless are representative of their communities’ cultural heritage. Thus, their loss, in addition to being a significant economic negative and a loss of affordable housing stock, also constitutes an erosion of architectural distinctness and community identify. But unlike historic properties, for which numerous programs exist to encourage and support their preservation, such “heritage housing” has received little comparable attention. This phenomenon presents an opportunity in which the rehabilitation of older housing stock can improve affordable first-time home ownership while generating employment, income, and wealth, and preserving community identity.
Mr. Lane will discuss his research at the Ohio University Voinovich School of leadership and Public Service which examined the opportunity to enhance Athens County’s supply of more affordable housing through the rehabilitation of older single-family houses – “heritage houses” – that have fallen into disrepair and are uninhabited. In this study, the term “attainable heritage housing” was coined to describe existing older home in need of repair, that are priced below conventional definitions of affordability and which – while typically lacking in historical significance, are nonetheless distinctly representative of their communities’ pasts. The study found that a program of targeted older house rehabilitation could produce significant short- and long-term positive economic impacts for current and prospective residents, while enhancing a community’s position to leverage aesthetic heritage distinctiveness to capitalize on emergent economic opportunities.
This webinar has been approved for 1.00 AIA HSW credit.
About our presenter:
Brent Lane is a Senior Executive in Residence at the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University, which he joined in 2020. In his career he has been an early-stage venture capitalist, developed and run business incubators, led state-level economic development programs teams, and directed a university applied economic strategies center. At the Voinovich School he designs and leads in analyses of novel economic and community development opportunities in Appalachian Ohio, especially those capitalizing on the region’s distinctive cultural and natural heritage assets. Brent has earned masters’ degrees in science and technology policy from the George Washington University and in business administration from the University of North Carolina.
Webinar: Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
Wednesday, November 15th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Catherine Lavoie, Chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the National Park Service (NPS), will talk about the program, how and why it was started, its mission, and its value, with a look at early HABS work in Ohio. HABS was established in 1933 as a unique public-private partnership between NPS, the Library of Congress (LoC), and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) aimed at creating an archive of America’s architectural heritage, then perceived to be rapidly vanishing. Under NPS management, AIA “district officers” in various states across the nation heeded the call to action, selecting and recording sites they deemed worthy of recognition, through measured drawings, historical reports, and photographs. The documentation was housed at the Library of Congress and made available to the general public. While times have changed, HABS still records historic architecture, as well as engineering sites and landscapes, while field testing new technologies to determine best practices and training the next generation of preservationists through its summer student recording program. The collection now spans about 45,000 sites and can be viewed online through the LoC website.
About our presenter:
Catherine Lavoie has a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Maryland with an emphasis in historic preservation and material culture. She worked briefly in state and local preservation before coming to HABS as a historian intern, rising to senior historian, and finally chief in 2008. Catherine is active in the Vernacular Architecture Forum, mostly recently serving as 2nd Vice President and was awarded VAF’s Buchanan Award for excellence in fieldwork and public service (2002) for her HABS study of the Quaker Meeting Houses of the Delaware Valley. Most recently, she co-authored Buildings of Maryland, the latest in the Society of Architectural Historians Buildings of the United States series.
Webinar: Restoration Housing
Wednesday, July 19th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Throughout the US, affordable housing is reaching crisis levels for many Americans. Yet vacant homes often sit for years without intervention and many are demolished to be redeveloped without a plan for their immediate redevelopment. What can be done about these issues?
Founded in 2014, Restoration Housing is a community-based, nonprofit developer focusing on the historic preservation of neglected architectural resources for the social benefit of low-income communities. At the core of everything Restoration Housing does is the belief that all people, regardless of circumstance, deserve to live in strong, healthy communities and dignified housing – the catalyst being the reinvestment in our historic built environment.
About our presenter:
Isabel Thornton is the Executive Director of Restoration Housing, which she founded in 2014 out of a passion for historic preservation and affordable housing. She received a BA in Architectural History from the University of Virginia and an MHP and MPL in Historic Preservation and Urban Planning from the University of Southern California.
She serves on the Real Estate Development Committee for Community Housing Partners and the Blue Ridge Interagency Council on Homelessness. She is also a board member for Carilion Medical Center.
Isabel lives on a farm in Botetourt County with her husband and four children.
Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest: And the winner is…..
The votes have been tallied and it’s time to announce this year’s winner. Congratulations go out to Brian Hiles for his photo of Elder High School in Cincinnati!
Be sure to catch the winning image on a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and who voted for their favorite image.
Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Story of Historic Preservation
Help us celebrate Preservation Month this May by participating in our annual Preservation Month Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “The Story of Historic Preservation” and we’ll be looking for your great images that capture what YOU think celebrates historic preservation. In tandem with your image, we want to hear the great story that goes with it. Whether it’s a story of a formerly endangered building that has been saved, a story of the people who built it, or a story of the people today who love it, we want to know why your subject material is important.
Once you get that perfect image and write the story behind it, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 14). Our Preservation Committee and Board of Trustees will choose finalists from all of the entries we receive, and then we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner! The winning image will be featured on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Good luck!
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Friday, April 14-Friday, May 12
Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 19-Thursday, May 25
Winner announced: Friday, May 26
Webinar: The Dayton VA Medical Center – Past, Present, and Future
Wednesday, November 9th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
On November 9, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will partner with Heritage Ohio on a webinar
focusing on two new initiatives at the historic Dayton VA Medical Center (VAMC). Founded in 1867 as
one of the original branches of the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the site originally
served Union Civil War Veterans. Today the Dayton VAMC provides world-class medical care on a
National Historic Landmark Campus.
This webinar will include information on the National VA History Center (NVAHC), which will occupy two
historic buildings on the VAMC campus. Once complete, the NVAHC will be the central location for
seminal artifacts and archives of historic significance from across hundreds of VA locations. The site will
provide storage, preservation, and access to these materials, as well as a museum and education center.
The VA will also present plans to look for private-sector partners to redevelop a series of vacant historic
buildings on the Dayton VAMC campus.
Presenters
- Michael Visconage, VA Chief Historian
- Alec Bennett, VA Senior Historic Preservation Specialist
Webinar: Partners for Sacred Places
Wednesday, September 7th – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The religious landscape across the US is changing rapidly as many congregations are closing, merging, or otherwise changing their relationship with their buildings and properties. Partners for Sacred Places works with congregations, judicatories, and preservationists across the faith spectrum to help congregations make decisions about their property with an eye toward community-minded approaches for transitioning sacred buildings and properties. This webinar will look at the current situation of religious properties as well as some of the resources in Partners’ recent publication Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places.
Rochelle (Shelly) Stackhouse, MDiv, PhD will provide an introduction to Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places: Community-Minded Approaches for Congregations and Judicatories, a new resource for congregations contemplating changes in the ownership or use of their buildings, and describe the tools and approaches this guide offers to church and community leaders.
Presenter
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, The Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. (Shelly) Stackhouse was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1982. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, she has served churches of varying sizes as Senior, Solo, Interim and Transitional Pastor in Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. She now serves as Senior Director of Programs for Partners for Sacred Places. She received a PhD from Drew University in Liturgical Studies and has taught at numerous seminaries, most recently Yale and Lexington. She is the author of one book and numerous book chapters and articles. She currently lives in Connecticut.
2022 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference
Registration Agenda Presenters Sponsorship Hotel FAQ
You’ll do better in Toledo! Join us in the Glass City October 3rd to the 5th for the Heritage Ohio annual Preservation and Main Street Conference, presented by Sandvick Architects & Coon Restoration. Engage in conversations around expanding the definition of preservation, and how and why we decide what to save. Take a fresh look at the Main Street approach to revitalization, and how strong neighborhoods support our historic commercial districts.
Our conference tracts this year are centered around Community Interest; Historic Sites and Properties; Community Involvement, Engagement, and DEI; Funding Resources; Historic Tax Credits; and Historic Preservation and Design Review. With nearly thirty sessions and six tours highlighting the best of Toledo and the revitalization community across Ohio, there’s something of interest for preservationists of every level, from beginner to seasoned pro.
The conference kicks off Monday with a deep dive into Historic Tax Credits, hosted at the restored Jones mansion in Findlay, Ohio. That evening, join us at the historic Toledo club for our Legacy Circle evening reception, where you’ll mingle with Heritage Ohio board members and many of our valued preservation partners. Tuesday will offer a full day of educational sessions and walking tours, along with a diverse vendor showcase and social mixer. Tuesday evening, we’ll travel to the historic Ohio Theatre in the Lagrange Neighborhood for keynote remarks from US Representative, Marcy Kaptur, followed by our annual awards ceremony and the inaugural Heritage Ohio film festival. Wednesday will feature more educational sessions and tours around Toledo.
Looking for Handouts & Presentations?
Visit our Dropbox folder for the conference materials.
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Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest: and the winner is…
Thank you to everyone who voted this past week for our entries. We’re pleased to announce the winning entry: A Moment Frozen in Time, submitted by Mary Beth Sills.
An intriguing setting combined with great public support for the entry translated into an emphatic contest win. Congratulations to Mary Beth! We’ll be featuring her winning image on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio. Thanks to everyone who voted.