MyHometownOhio

Answers... and More Answers

Staff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:54:00 -0500

What happens when you ask the right questions of the right people? You get great responses, that’s what. Such is the case with the results of the Fall 2009 Survey recently conducted by Preservation Ohio.

The answers shared were a treasure trove of information – over 100 narrative answers were shared on various topics, in addition to those filling out only the multiple choice questions. From funding ideas, to partnership ideas, to suggestions for change and improvement, those answering the survey clearly showed their strong interest in empowering Ohio’s statewide preservation and revitalization movements. This past Saturday, Preservation Ohio’s Board of Trustees met and considered this input as it sat out to draft a vision for the coming year.

As promised, some of the answers are included below – including the results to every multiple-choice question. We have included a sampling of narrative answers as well to give you a taste of what was on the minds of Ohioans as they completed the survey - again, some of the questions generated dozens and dozens of narrative responses.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our survey!

PRESERVATION OHIO FALL SURVEY

In your opinion, what are the greatest threats to or issues confronting historic preservation and preservation-based downtown and neighborhood revitalization in Ohio? (Please choose one or more, but no more than three).

ANSWER PERCENT

Lack of available financial assistance for renovation 44

Absent of inconsistently applied local regulations 38

Lack of awareness about the benefits of historic preservation 60

Aggressiveness of and political clout of the development community 22

Lack of a strong statewide preservation non-profit organization 16

Confusion about costs of renovation versus replacement 33

Lack of awareness about the relationship between preservation and 42

sustainable development

Other:

· The general state of economy and business in Ohio

· Demolition policies

· Duplication by having 2 preservation statewide groups causes confusion

· Excessive demolition because of “blight”

· Lack of public ethic toward history, preservation or heritage

Which area of preservation is of particular interest to you? Please choose as many answers as apply.

Historic house or building renovation and restoration 69

Local preservation organizations and efforts 64

Supporting preservation and revitalization on a statewide basis 36

Revitalization of Ohio downtowns 73

Promotion of heritage tourism – locally, regionally or statewide 53

Revitalization of Ohio’s traditional neighborhoods 55

Other:

· Save Over-the-Rhine!

· Historic schools – preservation and reuse as something new

· Historic school renovation for continued use

· Presentation of preservation technology for homeowner

· Historic farmland preservation

Please indicate the geographical area of Ohio in which you live:

Northeast 36

Northwest 9

Central 31

Southeast 4

Southwest 20

In your opinion, what are the primary opportunities or services that a statewide preservation organization needs to address? Please choose no more than three answers.

Creating opportunities for local preservationists to connect for advice and support 50

Providing technical advice 33

Providing information on funding 58

Assistance with local advocacy 40

Help with downtown revitalization 33

Help with neighborhood revitalization 38

Organizational development assistance 15

Local downtown and preservation program management services 25

Other:

· Advocacy in Columbus at the state level

· All of the above

· Continued educational use of Ohio’s historic schools

· Lobbying state for preservation dollars

How can Preservation Ohio, as a statewide preservation organization, better serve you and your community? With what programs or services?

· Encouraging Springfield in their efforts to save and rehab our historical buildings and neighborhoods rather than their typical approach of destroy and "put up a parking lot." We need to save Memorial Hall and the old Springfield South High School buildings.

· Help Cincinnati overturn its aggressive, anti-preservation demolition policies; help promote Cincinnati's preservation bargains on a national level.

· I think it needs to support the local groups by lobbying and funding and then technical support.

· Provide sources or support for funding or financing for private individuals to engage in preservation efforts. Or, serve as a central organization to assist individuals with acquiring said financing.

· Local advocacy and offering alternative development strategies to demolition.

· Information on grants and lobbying at the state level, that no property with a historical designation could be destroyed with private money

· I think Preservation Ohio can better serve the communities of Ohio by informing citizens of the benefits of preservation. Not many people today know how much preserving our history can help us prepare for the future.

· Downtown revitalization and incentives

· Get the word out to communities that help IS available!

· I believe that there should be more public awareness about the importance of preservation/restoration.

· Directing us to appropriate tools and educating us about the processes we may undertake.

· More funding and tax incentives to preserve rather than tear down and build new, inferior structures.

· Highlight sources of funding & grant opportunities.

· Local governments need educated on long range benefits to the local communities by preserving our heritage for future generations and adaptive reuse of historic structures and their positive impact to the local economy including their architectural appeal.

· Merge with Heritage Ohio and engage a wider audience through effective planning and communications.

· Serve as central information clearing house.

· By helping remove the stereo-typical view that historic schools can not be renovated to provide a 21st century education.

· Merge with Heritage Ohio.

· Preservation Ohio is already doing a good job; please continue stoking the enthusiasm of the existing preservation community, and welcoming/encouraging future Ohio preservationists.

· We need greater advocacy on Preservation and a stop to demolition in our neighborhoods.

Are you currently, or have you been a member of Preservation Ohio (or the Ohio Preservation Alliance) within the past 5 years? (40 answers, 15 skipped).

Yes 25

No 75

Other:

· I just receive the e-mails as well as read the articles on the website.

· Our organization belongs.

. Will join shortly; however, currently only involved from a distance via the Internet.

Preservation Advocacy and Neighborhood Revitalization

Staff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:15:00 -0500

Like many non-profit fields, supporters of historic preservation and preservation-based revitalization continue to be influenced by how they were made aware of the importance of historic resources. One typical avenue toward that awareness is the threat of demolition of an important local landmark, a place that contributes to a community’s sense of place – or, as noted urban advocate Ed McMahon calls them, “places of the heart.” When these demolition crises arrive, individuals and organizations mobilize and seek to influence owners to consider alternative paths. If that is unsuccessful, attention often shifts to encouraging local government officials to enact protections for historic resources.

The best advocacy, of course, is of the proactive variety. One of the key benefits of local historic preservation organizations is their ability to work toward creating “environments for preservation.” Such an environment is one where property owners are made generally aware of possible preservation financial incentives, of the importance of individual buildings and houses to downtowns and neighborhoods, and of the possibility of public outcry if they pursue demolition or insensitive renovation.

A real challenge exists when it is the local government itself that is the source of possible demolition. Such is the situation in Mansfield, where the city is pursuing an aggressive demolition program to combat blight, and local preservation advocates are seeking the opportunity to be a part of the process of evaluating the historic integrity and value of targeted structures. In fact, the ability to do so is written into federal law. Click here to read blog entries profiling this situation.

All over Ohio, local governments are using federal stimulus funds to combat the after-effects of the national foreclosure crisis – but in some cases, are doing so in a piecemeal fashion. Without paying attention to long-term neighborhood revitalization strategies, the net result may well be making the situation worse, not better. As the National Vacant Properties initiative has pointed out, simply creating a vacant lot can actually serve as a substantial long-term disincentive for investment in surrounding properties.

What is needed is a dialogue in Ohio communities on the best way to approach revitalization of traditional neighborhoods. What preservation and revitalization advocates can and should do is to seek ways to become a part of that conversation.

First-Ever Live Blog on Social Media and Preservation

Staff — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 11:19:00 -0400

On October 23, Preservation Ohio will host its third "live blog" of the year -- this time with a topic of "Social Media Meets Preservation", which will look at the relationship between the world of social media on one hand, and Ohio preservation and revitalization on the other.

An increasing number of statewide and local preservation and revitalization organizations are waking up to the potential of social networking to generate positive awareness, support and revenue. Perhaps the most important benefit of this new area of communication is the ability to build community behind a mission or project. From Facebook to Twitter; from Tumblr to Flickr - as we near the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the potential of social media is outstanding. Learn about best practices, tips and ideas to use social media to your advantage, including exciting projects now launching that use social media to help to communicate the message of preservation and revitalization. We'd be thrilled to welcome statewide and local preservation, Main Street and other preservation-related organizations to the discussion as well.

Preservation Ohio is a national leader in the use of social media to advance the cause of statewide historic preservation. From hosting the country's first and oldest blog on preservation, to owning the most-followed Twitter page for any organization in America, to launching the country's first stand-alone social network for preservation -- we have alot to share! Join us on October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, on any Preservation Ohio website -- including on the main website, on the Ohio Preservation Network, and on this page.

Ohio Preservation and Facebook Pages

Staff — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:23:00 -0400

Over the last few months, several Ohio preservation and downtown revitalization organizations have established a more thorough presence on Facebook with the creation of an official “Page.”

Facebook Pages are a more robust version of the former Facebook Groups, the latter of which basically allowed only static information, simple posts and some discussion. Pages have all of this and more, including the ability for those registered as “fans” to receive updates on their own individual sites. Pages can also be outfitted with applications, which provide increased functionality and features.

Both the Cincinnati Preservation Association and Columbus Landmarks Foundation have active Facebook Pages, which are updated often with news, event information, advocacy alerts and more. Fans can comment on these posts, can add their own content, and can embed posts them on their own pages.

Downtown revitalization organizations with Facebook Pages include Downtown Mansfield, Inc., Main Street Kent, the Heritage Centre Association (Mount Vernon), Main Street Oberlin, the Main Street Area Association (Hamilton), the Marysville Uptown Renewal Team, Main Street Canal Winchester, Main Street Medina, Main Street Orrville and Main Street Delaware.

Preservation Ohio’s Facebook Page includes all of the standard features, as well as our latest “Tweets,” the most recent photographs posted on our Flickr page, and the ability to easily invite friends to the page. The Preservation Ohio Facebook Page interconnects with both our website and the new Ohio Preservation Network. Together, through Twitter, Facebook, the Ohio Preservation Network, Flickr and our blog, MyHometownOhio, Preservation Ohio now enjoys between 2,000 and 3,000 friends, fans, followers and subscribers just through online social networking. All of this work is an attempt to build a cohesive and effective community for preservation and preservation-based revitalization in Ohio.

To access any of the Facebook Pages for the organizations referred to in this post, visit www.facebook.com/preservationohio and look for the “Favorite Pages” in the left-hand column. And, while you’re there, please become a “fan” of Preservation Ohio!

Starting a Great Conversation

Staff — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:37:00 -0400

Tuesday’s day-long workshop in Columbus, co-sponsored by Preservation Ohio and the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, turned out to be more of a conversation than a series of staid presentations. From the beginning breakfast panel discussion on local building issues in Columbus, all the way to the final session of the day, the emphasis was combining the latest information on financial incentives for preservation with the opportunity to dialogue with experts on each of those tools.

Speakers and panelists included the following:

•   Vince Papsidero - Planning Administrator, City of Columbus
•   Don DeVere - President, DeVere LLC
•   Laura MacGregor Comek, Esq. - Crabbe, Brown & James
•   Charissa W. Durst - President, Hardlines Design Company
•   Robert Loversidge - Principal, Schooley Caldwell Associates
•   Jeffrey Darbee and Nancy Recchie - Owners, Benjamin D. Rickey & Co.
•   Thomas Palmer - Executive Director, Preservation Ohio
•   Mark Lundine - Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Coordinator, Ohio Department of Development
•   Judith Kitchen - Technical Preservation Services Department Head, Ohio Historic Preservation Office

Topics included use of the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, Clean Ohio funding, the new Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit, the use of historic conservation easements, New Markets Tax Credits, and more.

Anonymous evaluations of the event included the following comments:

•   “All of these topics are very interesting. Very practical information.”
•   “This was the most useful presentation on historic preservation financial aid that I have ever seen. Many thanks for putting this all together.”
•    "Good! Program!"
•    "A great seminar."
•    "Terrific, well-informed speakers, good selection of topics for background information."

This was the first workshop of its kind in Columbus in some time, and participants were clearly anxious to continue the discussion after sessions and into the future. Preservation Ohio has been involved in similar workshops over the last three years in other Ohio locations, and is already lining up venues to continue the series in the coming months.

Photos: Preservation Ohio File Photos

Thinking Easements

Staff — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:13:00 -0400

by Thomas Palmer, Executive Director

On Tuesday, I will be speaking on the subject of historic conservation easements at “Financial Incentives for Historic Properties,” a day-long workshop on tax benefits for preservation work co-sponsored by Preservation Ohio and the Columbus Landmarks Foundation.

As you can imagine, easements have occupied my thoughts as of late as I prepared for this presentation. The attendees to the event will be diverse – including many to obtain continuing education credit for architects, lawyers and real estate professionals. And, as the event is taking place somewhere other than Cleveland or Cincinnati where historic conservation easements are better known, it is likely that for many this will be their first exposure to this important tool for preservation.

Two facts highlight the importance of historic conservation easements – also known as “preservation easements.” First, unlike the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, the tax incentive for easement donation is equally available to owners of non income-producing properties – that is, your family home if you so choose. Second, and perhaps most importantly, they represent the only “slam-dunk” path toward preserving the historic resources of a given property, for many reasons:

Placement on the National Register of Historic Places, or inclusion in a National Register Historic District, provides no protection against alteration or even demolition if federal funding is not used.
While many Ohio communities have historic preservation or design review ordinances that provide protection, not every community has the resources to provide ongoing monitoring.
Decisions of administrative boards can be appealed and can therefore have the potential to end up in politically-charged settings.
Not all design review or historic preservation ordinances protect against demolition. Even if an ordinance protects a property, many ordinances allow for an economic hardship appeal, and the decision may be challenged legally on that basis.
More than one Ohio community has actually rescinded a preservation ordinance.

Its little surprise that noted preservationist Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. once said, “There are only two sure ways to save a building: you either have to own it or protect it through an easement.”

While the easement program nationwide has been in a state of flux over the last several years, some clarity is returning and the tool is again being used in many locations. Click here for an introduction to historic conservation easements on our website.

Photo: Pennsylvania House, Springfield - Preservation Ohio File Photo

Ohio's Preservation Community Celebrates with Tiffin

Staff — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:40:00 -0400

The first time that a post appeared on MyHometownOhio concerning the Seneca County Courthouse was on February 16, 2007. The post featured a video which had been placed on YouTube which lamented both the condition of the Tiffin landmark as well as its endangered status.

Over the two and a half years which followed, this blog chronicled the ongoing saga of the building - including the work of the Tiffin Historic Trust, the incredible efforts of the Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, and Preservation Ohio’s own involvement. We have joined our friends in Tiffin in rallies, speeches and presentations, have spoken to the Commissioners, have provided testimony in design review hearings, filed an amicus curiae brief in ongoing legal action, and joined with others to sponsor the Ohio Courthouse Summit in late 2007.

Yesterday, the Seneca County Commissioners voted 3-0 to support the renovation of the Seneca County Courthouse - the first building to be selected to lead the annual list of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. This honor was made in recognition of its importance to the local community and county, the quality of its architecture, and because we knew that the eyes of many across the state were tuned toward Tiffin as they looked at their own facilities.

Preservation Ohio applauds the three Seneca County Commissioners, members of the Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group including their point person Franklin Conaway, members of the Tiffin Historic Trust, and everyone else who has played a role in this effort. Franklin is a co-founder and former Board President of Preservation Ohio, and we're thrilled to recognize him for his role in this project.

The work continues, as funds must be raised for the courthouse tower and other improvements. MyHometownOhio will continue to follow this story - and we will be there on the day in the hopefully not-too-distant future when we can cover the opening of the newly renovated Seneca County Courthouse.

For Toledo Blade coverage of this story, including video of the actual vote, click here.

Photo: Seneca County Courthouse, Tiffin - circa 1884

Courthouse Coverage

Staff — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:46:00 -0400

In the aftermath of the July 20 presentation of the Seneca County Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, there has been a great deal of activity in Tiffin as Commissioners consider the renovation proposal, and the public hears and reacts to the plan. Not surprisingly, the matter, which has been extensively covered in media over the last three years, has continued to generate substantial coverage. Here is a sampling of recent articles and letters to the editor on the subject:

"Cost Effectiveness is determining factor" - Letter to the Editor by Seneca County Commissioner Ben Nutter - "... As a Seneca County commissioner, my position in relation to the courthouse has been exactly the same from the moment I took office, and that is; I will support the course of action that is most fiscally responsible in providing space to the judiciary of Seneca County..."

Advertister-Tribune editorial – “Majority just want the issue to be over” - "Arguments and legal wrangling over the 1884 courthouse have resulted in a false dichotomy. The county, it may seem, is split into two camps: Those who favor renovating the "grand old lady" and those who favor removing "big ugly"..."

“Courthouse lines in the sand have become scars” – Advertiser-Tribune - "When a line is drawn in the sand, who has the courage to scratch it out?..."

“Figues, opinions change” – Advertiser-Tribune - "...The long journey of decision-making in the commissioner board room has inspired the passions of county residents on two distinct sides of a divided county..."

“Seneca County Courthouse report is full of details to make the case” – Toledo Blade - "The head of a group aiming to save and restore the abandoned Seneca County Courthouse turned in his final report Monday, a thick photo-and-drawing-filled document stuffed with the kinds of details supporters hope will win over hesitant county residents..."

“Seneca County diverts $687,000 in courthouse funds” – Toledo Blade - "More than $687,000 set aside to tear down and replace Seneca County's 1884 courthouse was diverted to the county's general fund yesterday to cover expenses in the sheriff's office and department of job and family services...."

“Seneca County’s renovation foes rethink positions” – Toledo Blade - "...Based on the best information we had available two years ago, it was cheaper to remove and replace," Mr. Nutter said. "But based on the information we have today, it may very well be less expensive to renovate and provide more space and still be able to keep a building and our sense of cultural identity..."

Photo: Seneca County Courthouse - Preservation Ohio File Photo

A Wal-Mart in the Wilderness?

Staff — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:58:00 -0400

Once and a while, Preservation Ohio learns of and reports on a national preservation issue which truly transcends state lines -- one which, while occurring in another state, nevertheless has an Ohio impact.

Such a situation has been occurring over the last several months in Orange County, Virginia. There, Wal-Mart Corporation has announced their intention to construct a 138,000 square-foot Supercenter immediately adjacent to the Wilderness and Chancelorsville Battlefields. And, with the ancillary development that typically accompanies such a store, the grounds of the battle itself are seriously threatened with loss.

According to Wikipedia, The Battle of the Wilderness took place from May 5 through May 7, 1864, and involved some 162,000 soldiers. While estimates vary as to the number of casualties, most place losses in the range of 15,000 to 18,000 for the Union troops, with approximately 10,000 losses for the Confederacy. It was a bloody battle that represented the first between Generals Grant and Lee during the former’s Virginia Overland Campaign. Ohio was certainly there at this battle, as it was in almost all of the war, including the valiant 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a unit raised from the cities and fields of Seneca County.

The fight to save the battlefield’s historic integrity has been ongoing, with an initial planning decision going in favor of the Wal-Mart developers. Without question, the primary resource for this situation has been provided by the Civil War Preservation Trust, the country’s leading non-profit advocate for preserving the land of the Civil War. On their “Save the Wilderness Battlefield” page visitors can get up-to-the-minute details on the struggle. The goal has been to encourage the company to choose an alternative location for their store more removed from the battlefield, not to stop it from building in the area.

Preservation Ohio strongly recommends becoming informed about this issue, and doing what you can to make a difference.

Photo: Painting, Battle of The Wilderness - Public Domain

Social Media Meets Preservation

Staff — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:43:00 -0400

2009 has seen an amazing explosion in the area of social media. The phenomenon that is Twitter, for instance, has recently had an impact in everything from national politics to international relations. Far from a static tool, social media is constantly evolving, changing and adapting to meet new opportunities and new technologies - particularly in the area of the mobile web (cell phones, etc.).

In many ways, America’s non-profit organizations are leading the charge into the creative use of social media. Here is a recent conference presentation on the use of social media in the non-profit world. Note, however, that as these statistics are already 7 months old, that today’s numbers have risen exponentially.

Social Media for Non Profits

View more presentations from Primal Media.

Preservation and revitalization are, perhaps not surprisingly, lagging behind this trend. Pacesetting organizations such as the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training are attempting to identify and promote the use of social media by preservation organizations through their excellent Voices from the Past website and Preservation Today web casts, however many local, statewide and even national preservation and revitalization organizations seem to be stuck in Web 2.0 - if they have any online presence at all.

Preservation Ohio has been at the forefront of this change since MyHometownOhio, the country’s first self-authored blog on statewide preservation, was launched in July of 2006. We currently have the most followed organizational page on Twitter of any statewide or national preservation organization, and have companion sites on Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube. This Summer we launched the country’s first self-contained social networking site for statewide preservation, The Ohio Preservation Network, and have forayed into the realm of live blogging for the recent announcement of the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites.

One thing about social media - the scene can change in just a few months. That’s why we are always looking a year down the road - to identify the social networking and media opportunities of the future that will better enable us to perform our mission.

An Incalculable Loss

Staff — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:39:00 -0400

This article was originally posted on MyHometownOhio in 2007. The tragedy herein described continues to this day, making this post even more poignant to all Ohioans.

There has been much written about the loss of older school buildings across Ohio in the last few years. “Ohio’s Historic Schools” have had a secure place on the list of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites since 2002, and rightfully so – the listing represents the greatest systematic loss of historic resources in Ohio since the days of urban renewal. And, in many ways, the loss of school buildings is more insidious, as it takes place in urban settings and rural crossroads alike. Schools are falling victim to a massive building program that wastes money by discounting opportunities for renovation, and which then subsidizes demolition. Outside of Ohio’s largest cities, few historic school buildings are being renovated, and most are succumbing to the wrecking ball.

Actually, in conveying the size and pervasiveness of the loss of Ohio’s historic schools, we believe that pictures can say more than words. So, rather than try and describe the situation, or the quality of architecture that is at issue, we invite you to visit a new website we have discovered. The folks at www.oldohioschools.com have collected an outstanding collection of photographs of Ohio’s school buildings – those that are endangered, those that have already been lost, and also a collection of former schools that have found new life through adaptive re-use.

A warning, though – these pictures "tell it as it is." A box of tissues might be in order.

All Day, All Night

Staff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:58:00 -0400

The Ohio Preservation News reader located on the left side of this blog provides an excellent way to learn what is happening in the word of preservation, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, heritage tourism, smart growth, archeology and local history not only here in Ohio, but across the country.

The site provides short descriptions and links to a wide range of media stories - many of which come from Ohio newspapers, online magazines and blogs. Because it uses RSS, or “Really Simple Syndication,” the reader is updated continuously throughout the day..and night...each time that a local newspaper or media source updates its own site.

To give a glimpse of what can be found - here is a small sampling of stories available just this afternoon from the Ohio Preservation News reader.

Rescue of a historic grandstand at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds

An effort to “save angled parking” in downtowns statewide

The third installment in a series about “Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine”

Efforts to create a quilt tour in Greene County

The unfolding and interesting situation concerning the auction of a historic house in Avondale

How an environmental assessment can aid in the renovation of a 300,000 former factory building in Cincinnati

Coverage of the Restoring Prosperity Conference in Cleveland

An upcoming lecture concerning the 1913 flood in Ohio

A Lincoln exhibit coming to the Auglaize County Public District Library

The summer schedule for the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

A look at a long-lost element of early Cleveland city planning

Video from a living history presentation in Mansfield

A look at what American cities are attracting the GenY generation

A critique of current urban “downsizing” by Richard Florida

The challenges of reaching consensus in local historic preservation legislation

New and Updated Websites

Staff — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:23:00 -0400

The new website of the Civil War Preservation Trust includes a variety of features that engage visitors in the effort to save historic battlefields nationwide. Materials for educators and students, a battlefield search tool, and detailed information about efforts to save Civil War history are included, as is an outstanding collection of online battlefield maps. Its well worth a visit.

The Columbus Landmarks Foundation has a newly-updated site designed to acquaint visitors with local preservation issues and efforts. The site was an excellent tool during the recently-concluded City Hop, and includes reference to the Foundation’s other online sites. Links allow visitors to combine learning about sponsored events - including their well-known walking tours - with actual ticket purchasing.

Downtown revitalization websites launched or updated in the last several months include the sites for The Downtown Bellfontaine Partnership, Main Street Medina, and Downtown Fremont.

The website of the University District of The Ohio State University has information on just about everything you would need to enjoy living, working and playing in the area of OSU… from a map of local wi-fi hotspots to the latest on area investment and rental opportunities -- and home preservation efforts.

And - as profiled in a previous post - the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Resource Center has been updated with information and links to the latest on this important financial incentive for older property rehabilitation. Click here to access.

Photo: Screenshot, CivilWar.org

Help Save Ohio History!

Staff — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:12:00 -0400

Cyberspace has been buzzing over the last week as Ohioans react online to the Ohio Senate’s passage of a version of the biennial budget that calls for dramatic cuts in funding for the Ohio Historical Society.

Everyone knows that the dire economic times call for dramatic action. What is proposed for the Society, however, is nothing short of a gutting of vital programming that will have far-reaching impact over multiple years. The list of lost programs is staggering, and includes the following, according to the Society’s website:

Elimination of teacher training and educational programs that leverage federal funding
Elimination of National History Day in Ohio, a national program which originated in Ohio
Elimination of the Local History Office that serves 800 local history organizations
Elimination of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015) initiative
Elimination of the Ohio Historical Markers program
Severe restrictions for OHS services throughout the state
Reduced ability to generate non-state revenues (i.e., federal grants, private revenue)
Reduced access to historic sites and museums
Reduced ability to recruit local organizations to manage sites
Reduced assistance and resources to sites management organizations

Your help is needed as we collectively respond to the potential of these cuts. Here are links to additional information:

Please join OHS and friends of history from across Ohio at noon this Thursday as they RALLY FOR HISTORY! on the grounds of the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus (I-71 at 17th Avenue). Participants will also be able to board busses after the event for meetings with legislators at the Ohio Statehouse. For more information on the rally, please click here.

Photo: crazyanman.history/Creative Commons License

New Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Application Cycles Announced: Resource Center Updated

Staff — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:39:00 -0400

On June 4, the Ohio Department of Development issued a press release announcing two new application periods for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC).

The first submission window begins on July 1 and extends through September 30. In addition to the new application itself, the Department has also provided a short OHPTC overview, as well as a summary/self-scoring document for use in application preparation. Links to all of these can be found on the primary tax credit page, which be accessed here. It should be noted that new criteria have been added to the application and review process, which take into account various aspects of a project’s geographic diversity and its economic potential.

Preservation Ohio has updated the online Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Resource Center to reflect this new information, and which also provides information about combining the OHPTC with other tax credits and deductions. The Resource Center can be found here.

Photo: Fort Piqua Hotel, Piqua - OZinOH/Creative Commons License

Next Weekend Brings City Hop 2009

Staff — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:32:00 -0400

It’s time again for the annual showcase of urban living in downtown Columbus - City Hop - and this year, as in years past, offerings include both renovated and new infill living spaces.

The event is a reminder of the power of historic architecture to provide incredible places in which to live and work. Some of this year’s stops, such as the newly-renovated “8 on the Square,” are housed in period office structures (this one from 1906; see photo) that have been updated to provide the kind of living space that is financially difficult to replicate. Others, such as CityView, are located in buildings which had dramatically different original purposes - this one constructed as a factory building for a shoe manufacturer.

Of course, the infill projects that have recently sprung up like very welcome weeds in downtown Columbus promote the idea of a walkable, dynamic and dense urban environment. Projects such as Neighborhood Launch and The Annex at River South take their cue from their surroundings and from the history of the area, while adding a 21st century flair.

There’s a lot to see at City Hop, presented by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Here are links to relevant resources:

Main City Hop 2009 page on the website of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation - includes a look at each tour stop, tour details, etc..
The new City Hop online magazine
City Hop on Twitter
Podcast about City Hop from Columbus Underground

Photo: 8 on the Square - gorkon280/Creative Commons License

The 2009 List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites

Staff — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:58:00 -0400

Springfield, Ohio (June 1, 2009) – Preservation Ohio has announced the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. This important list highlights important pieces of Ohio history that face an uncertain future, and which deserve the attention of all Ohioans as remnants of the past that merit preservation.

Each year, Ohio’s statewide preservation organization searches for houses, commercial buildings, governmental structures, bridges, historic roadways, landscapes, downtowns, neighborhoods and other important pieces of Ohio history that face a potentially risky future. The list serves to highlight those properties which are both historically significant and endangered — whether it be by threats of demolition, long-term disinvestment or neglect, insensitive governmental action, uncertainty or indifference.

Nominations for this important list have come from individuals, preservation organizations, downtown and neighborhood revitalization organizations, historical societies, historic road associations, local governments and other entities. In each case, the property is reviewed for both its value to local, regional, state or federal history, and the nature of the threat involved. Special attention is paid to those sites facing a threat which typifies one facing many of Ohio’s historic resources. Properties remain on the list each year until such time as the threat is lessened.

Designation is similar to that given for the country’s most endangered historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation — the primary benefit of the list being public attention and focus. The list has received substantial media attention, including coverage in all of Ohio’s major newspapers, as well as in magazines, lifestyle publications and local media.

Information about the Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites program can be found on our website, located at: www.preservationohio.org. Beginning on June 2, a link to each listed property will be activated each day, with photos, videos and more to be included. Click here to access a page with an overview of the Ohio's Most Endangered program, links to lists from previous years, a look at the role of endangered lists nationwide, as well as direct links to endangered lists recently released by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and 13 other states.

The 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites includes the following sites:

Seneca County Courthouse (1884) - Tiffin, Seneca County – A landmark courthouse, community icon and key asset for downtown revitalization that may soon become the first 19th century Ohio courthouse demolished in a generation. The Seneca County Courthouse has been on the list since 2005.

Greenhills Historic District (1930s) - Greenhills, Hamilton County – A unique, nationally-important planned community near Cincinnati that has been the focus of concern based on village-funded demolitions. Greenhills has been on the list since 2008.

Village of Burton Schoolhouse (1868) - Burton, Geauga County – A unique piece of northeast Ohio architecture that faces an uncertain future as a community decides its fate. The Village of Burton Schoolhouse has been on the list since 2008.

Shawnee Main Street Historic District (Various, 1860-present) - Shawnee, Perry County – An amazing collection of brick and frame commercial buildings with a fascinating past, but which continue to deteriorate. The Shawnee Main Street Historic District has been on the list since 2007.

Mehrum-Lindley Block (1906-1913) - Hamilton, Butler County – This building provides a very important link to the past of Hamilton and the ability of the community to generate downtown revitalization. The Mehrum-Lindley Block has been on the list since 2007.

South High School (1911) - Springfield, Clark County – A massive and monumental educational building replaced under the Ohio School Facilities Commission program yet which has no definite future. South High School has been on the list since 2008.

Edgerton Village Hall/Park Opera House (1884) - Edgerton, Williams County – A town hall with upper-floor opera house that could provide outstanding facilities for local government, but which has been the focus of demolition discussion. The Edgerton Village Hall has been on the list since 2008.

Elam Drake Farmstead (1860s) - Columbus, Franklin County – A collection of historically significant Civil War-era historic buildings near Port Columbus Airport standing vacant with an uncertain future. This is the first year for the Elam Drake Farmstead on the list.

Gunning House (1940) - Reynoldsburg/Columbus, Franklin County – An excellent example of mid 20th-century architecture designed by trained apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright, threatened by area development and loss. This is the first year for the Gunning House on the list.

Memorial Hall (1915) - Springfield, Clark County – One of the largest of Ohio’s grand memorial buildings honoring local veterans, located in a downtown with a dwindling number of buildings, and currently scheduled for demolition. This is the first year for Memorial Hall on the list.

Former Julienne High School (1926) - Dayton, Montgomery County – A large former Catholic high school with adjoining convent building that are important to local educational and social history, but nevertheless scheduled for replacement and demolition. This is the first year for Julienne High School on the list.

Antioch College Historic District (Various stages beginning in 1854) - Yellow Springs, Greene County – A landmark of national educational history, the original campus has been closed for over a year with concerns over the future of its historic buildings, and awaits hopeful re-opening. This is the first year for Antioch College on the list.

Ohio's Traditional Churches and Synagogues (Various) – Statewide – Ohio’s inner-city religious buildings face an uncertain future with the decline of mainline denominational congregations and aging buildings. This is the first year for Ohio’s Traditional Churches and Synagogues on the list.

Preservation Ohio has been Ohio’s statewide preservation organization since 1982. The mission of the private, non-profit corporation is to secure the ability of Ohio’s rich past to generate pride, economic development and a high quality of life for all Ohioans.

Downtown to Lifestyle Center to...Downtown?

Staff — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:32:00 -0400

Many Ohioans have experienced the phenomenon of retail lifestyle centers. Cleveland’s Crocker Park, Toledo’s Levis Commons, “The Greene” near Dayton, and the gigantic Easton in Columbus are among those centers that feature a combination of retail, residential and office space in a centralized setting.

This blog has previously looked at lifestyle centers, particularly as they can be described as traditional downtowns built from scratch in the middle of vacant land, each of which draws substantial shopping and office traffic from communities whose own downtowns experience economic decline. As such, they tend to be “poster children” for the downside of urban sprawl.

Traditional Ohio downtowns differ from these centers in at least one key aspect - unified ownership. Instead of corralling the numerous levels of interests represented in downtown, including individual property owners, merchants, service providers, restaurateurs, etc. -- lifestyle centers can easily set uniform hours and engage in cooperative promotion through lease restrictions.

One Ohio community is currently seeking to change that paradigm. Valley Ventures, a unique non-profit economic development organization working to secure investment in one Ohio county and three counties in West Virginia, has set out to duplicate the lifestyle center approach in downtown Steubenville. Their plan is straight-forward … to concentrate entrepreneur-focused investment in a 12-block target area. With a target of generating 30 to 40 new businesses in the next 5 years, the organization has had some limited initial success with the planned opening of 6 new ventures this summer. The goals include an emphasis on mixed-use development. Click here for local newspaper and here for TV coverage, including video.

For an interesting look at historic commercial buildings available for purchase or lease in downtown Steubenville, click here.

Photo: Downtown Steubenville - OZinOH/Creative Commons License

Documentary Premier Highlights Historic Greenhills

Staff — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:28:00 -0400

An Announcement in Dayton

Staff — Sat, 23 May 2009 17:44:00 -0400

Preservation Ohio will be making an official announcement of the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites at the end of the month. The future of some properties is so tenuous, however, that a quicker unveiling of a particular listing makes real sense.

In this light, on Thursday, May 21 we took the occasion to visit Dayton as part of our series of trips across the state in honor of National Preservation Month. There we joined members of Preservation Dayton, the Five Oaks Neighborhood Association, the Friends of Julienne and other interested citizens for a press conference in front of the former Julienne High School. The school building, located at 325 Homewood Avenue in Dayton, is a massive educational facility constructed in 1927 connected adjacent to a convent. Used as a Catholic girls school for many decades, these buildings are now owned by Dayton Public Schools.

Dayton Public Schools are undergoing a large rebuilding program in conjunction with the Ohio School Facilities Commission, and have announced plans to replace Julienne with a small facility on the same site. Unlike what has occurred in other metro areas, however, including Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, almost no period educational buildings are being reused in Dayton. As a result, much of the history of the community, an outstanding opportunity to save taxpayer funds, and the ability to invest in buildings with longer potential lifespans have been lost.

Julienne represents an opportunity for Dayton Public Schools to make a positive statement for neighborhood stability, history and the educational needs of local students. If the present building represents more space than is needed, opportunities exist for combining uses to secure funding for renovation. If a new school is constructed elsewhere on the expansive grounds (over 12 acres, as can be seen in the photo to the right), the buildings represent an extraordinary resource for adaptive reuse - and several developers have already expressed interest in such a project. The complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Preservation Ohio was pleased to announce the inclusion of Julienne on the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites at the event, which also included a review of efforts to preserve the school (including an unsuccessful attempt at obtaining local landmark designation), a discussion of available options, and a statement by the Friends of Julienne alumni group. An interior tour of the school was conducted after the press conference.

Click here for coverage of the announcement in the Dayton Daily News. A slideshow of the press conference and photos taken during the post-conference tour is featured below (for our subscribers, this slideshow is available here).

Photo: Former Julienne High School, Dayton - Windows Live Local; All other photos are Preservation Ohio File Photos

May and Our Trip to Hamilton

Staff — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:44:00 -0400

Working in historic preservation tends to parallel “real life” - May and September are two of the busiest months of the year, packing in conferences, workshops, tours, and other opportunities to become engaged in preserving Ohio’s past. As May is also National Preservation Month, there is typically an added “boost” to this month’s event schedule.

Staff and Board members of Preservation Ohio have been incredibly busy over the last 20 days; many of those trips and events have been profiled in previous posts - and the rest of the month provides little change to that schedule. In less than two weeks we have hosted two live blogs, traveled for talks in Mansfield and Hamilton, conducted easement monitoring, and joined the Columbus Landmarks Foundation for site visits to two of the properties on the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. Later this week we travel again to Southwest Ohio to join with preservation-minded individuals and groups in two additional Ohio communities - Dayton and Yellow Springs.

This past Monday, we also enjoyed a treat -- lunch with two staff members from Heritage Ohio, Ohio’s other statewide preservation organization. This was the first time we have joined our friends there for a meal, and the experience was a pleasure.

We are pleased to share with you some views of our trip to Hamilton on Saturday, May 16, where we were fortunate to join with participants in the Butler County Preservation Roundtable. This annual event brings together representatives from the county’s numerous historical societies and local preservation organizations, each of whom provide reports on recent activities. Preservation Ohio gave a presentation on statewide preservation issues and opportunities.

Clockwise from the top left, these photos represent:

1. Participants in the roundtable joined in the historic Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Hamilton.

2. Each organization spoke in turn concerning recent preservation-related activities.

3. After the event, Preservation Ohio conducted in-person monitoring of its historic conservation easements in Hamilton, which protect the historic integrity of two early 19th century brick residences.

4. The Anthony Wayne Hotel, which Preservation Ohio acquired in the late 1990s and marketed to a preservation-friendly developer. This property is now a highly successful senior living facility.

5. The Mehrum-Lindley Block in downtown Hamilton was retained on the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. After the Roundtable, we walked the short two blocks to the site with nominator, Miami University student Nathaniel Kaelin, to take a closer look at the structure, which continues to have an uncertain future.

6. Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer detailed the work of Preservation Ohio across the state.

Photos: All Preservation Ohio File Photos

Preservation Ohio Goes "On the Road"

Staff — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:16:00 -0400

Over the next several weeks, Preservation Ohio goes "On the Road" to visit many corners of Ohio. Some of our visits will coincide with the release of the 2009 List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites; in others, we will be talking about issues relating to statewide preservation issues, financial incentives for older properties, and downtown & neighborhood revitalization.

Here's a quick look at some of our upcoming trips:

May 13 - Mansfield - Downtown Property Owners Conference

May 16 - Hamilton - Butler County Preservation Roundtable

May 18 - Columbus - Announcement of two properties on the 2009 List of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites.

May 21 - Springfield, Dayton and Yellow Springs - Additional Most Endangered announcement visits.

July 31/August 1 - New Philadelphia - THAT Old House Preservation & Restoration Workshop

Several more trips are being planned. In each community, we plan to chronicle stories of communities coming together to recognize and work for the future of their historic resources. Stay tuned to this site, MyHometownOhio and the Ohio Preservation Network for photos, video and more.

Preservation Ohio to Host Two Live Blogs

Staff — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:10:00 -0400

Welcome to a step into the future of preservation. In honor of National Preservation Month in May, as well as our 27th birthday on April 27, Preservation Ohio has announced that it will host two “live blog” events during the first two Fridays of the month.

“Live blogs” are a means of interacting with site visitors in real time. The site moderator is able to provide a continuous feed of information, while those visiting the site can ask questions and add comments, which appear instantly on the blog. The moderator can also post links, pictures, videos – or even news stories. Twitter feeds can also be added, giving Twitterers a chance to participate as well.

The live blog will appear simultaneously on the following sites:

•   The main Preservation Ohio website at: www.preservationohio.org
•    Here on our blog, MyHometownOhio, located at: myhometownohio.blogharbor.com (please note: no www).
•   The Ohio Preservation Network at: www.ohiopreservationnetwork.com

The two sessions, and the topic for each, will be as follows:

•   Friday, May 1 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – “Preservation in Ohio Live Blog” – A general look at the state of historic preservation in Ohio today. Visitors will also get a sneak peek at properties listed on the 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites.

•   Friday, May 8 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. -- “Revitalization in Ohio Live Blog” – A look at preservation-based downtown and neighborhood revitalization in Ohio communities. From Main Street to your street, we’ll answer your questions and share information.

It is believed that this may be the first time that live blogging has been used by a preservation organization in this fashion. Preservation Ohio was also the first statewide preservation organization in the country with a self-written blog (begun in mid-2006), and currently has almost 900 fans, followers and friends on social networking sites. This May we officially launch the Ohio Preservation Network, an online meeting place for friends of preservation in Ohio.

We look forward to having you join us for this exciting foray into interactive technology.

Preservation Ohio Files Motion in Seneca County Courthouse Action

Staff — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:11:00 -0400

The following Press Release was issued this afternoon:

"Preservation Ohio has announced that this morning it filed a motion in the Seneca County Court of Common Pleas seeking recognition as an amicus curiae party in a pending action involving the Seneca County Courthouse. In specific, the organization is asking for the opportunity to provide briefs to assist the Court in its deliberations.

Some weeks ago, Seneca County Commissioners filed a Complaint seeking the Court to declare that it had complied with the City of Tiffin architectural review ordinance, which governs external changes to buildings located within the downtown historic district. Last week, the County, together with the City of Tiffin, presented joint stipulations of fact that supported the Commissioners’ contention. If granted, the relief requested would mean that the county could proceed to demolition of the courthouse without further obligations under the ordinance.

In its motion, Preservation Ohio shared its willingness to share information with the Court relative to the matters being considered, including the impact of the demolition on the fabric and development potential of the downtown architectural review district. Further, the organization stated that:

“We know of no reported cases in Ohio where the interface between levels of state government interests have been weighed in the context of historic preservation or architectural review ordinances, as distinguished from zoning ordinances. As such, this case will likely have substantial precedential import as other communities consider the future not only of county courthouse facilities, but of other county and state-owned properties…. It is therefore in the best interests of the entire state that the decision reached in this case be based on a complete consideration of all relevant facts, and not just those included in the submitted Stipulation of Facts.”

It is important to note that the County has granted permission for an independent group to develop a renovation and funding strategy for the courthouse, which must be presented by mid-July, at the same time that it is pursuing this ruling. The Seneca County Courthouse, designed by noted architect Elijah Myers, has been included on the List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites since 2005.

Preservation Ohio is celebrating its 27th anniversary this month as Ohio’s statewide historic preservation organization. Through education, advocacy and partnership, it seeks to promote a future for the state’s rich collection of historic resources to promote both economic development and a high quality of life. More information about Preservation Ohio can be found on its website, located at www.preservationohio.org."

Photo: Seneca County Courthouse - Preservation Ohio File Photo, All Rights Reserved

Why "Most Endangered?"

Staff — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:37:00 -0400

This week staff has been busy prepping for the Preservation Ohio Annual Meeting coming up this Saturday. The event always serves as a great chance to step back for a minute, take a look at the “big picture,” and discuss the future of our organization and its mission. This year, that meeting will include a presentation entitled simply, “Opportunity.” Opportunity is an interesting creature; it can actually lurk almost invisibly in the wide open, waiting to be noticed.

Immediately after our Annual Meeting, the Board of Trustees will engage in their Spring Meeting, which always includes a vote on the annual List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites. The Trustees take this responsibility very seriously, but also thoroughly enjoy reading the stories of communities coming together to advocate for the future of important local resources. This year’s list of nominations is a strong one, including new types of resources that have never been included before.

The role of a list of endangered historic resources is a time-tested and effective approach to preservation advocacy. Each year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation issues its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places and does so, according to its website, “as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage.” In a 2007 survey of statewide preservation organizations conducted by the Trust, it found that some 24 statewides use endangered properties lists in the same fashion.

In some locations, such compilations have been replaced by other types of lists which emphasize the potential of buildings to generate investment. While certainly a great idea, and while older buildings obviously need revenue to survive, this approach may not necessarily consider sites from certain other perspectives -- the importance of the site to the history of the locality, region and/or state, the way that a given condition highlights serious issues facing similar historic resources in other locations, as well as the willingness of supporters to come together to support preservation efforts to say, in essence, “this place matters.” In short, Preservation Ohio feels that the remotest Underground Railroad site in Ohio that faces imminent demolition is certainly just as newsworthy and deserving of highlight as the vacant older commercial building sitting in a prime location in a major city. We try to highlight both the “opportunities” and the “challenges.”

The 2009 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites will be unveiled beginning in early May -- National Preservation Month -- on our main website, the Ohio Preservation Network, and here on MyHometownOhio. This year, the list will be just the beginning of major announcements from Preservation Ohio that will take place throughout the month -- all designed to fulfill our mission to assist local preservation-minded individuals and organizations working all over Ohio. We invite you to stay tuned.

Perspectives on Preservation - Thomas' Turn

Staff — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:45:00 -0400

Preservation Ohio Executive Director Thomas Palmer takes a turn in sharing some observations on preservation and revitalization.

There’s an old adage that those working in historic preservation are always influenced by how their involvement began.

It is certainly true for me. I was sped along the path of preservation by my experiences while an undergraduate student at the University of Utah, chief among which watching a community come to grips with the future of an iconic historic building.

The Salt Lake City and County Building, which I usually heard referred to as the “City-County Building,” is a massive sandstone structure of Richardsonian Romanesque design located a few blocks south of the center of downtown Salt Lake City. Built in the last decade of the 19th century, the unique structure housed the offices of both the Salt Lake City municipal government and Salt Lake County – and was built with room to spare. In fact, the City-County Building was used as the first capitol building for the new State of Utah in 1896, and served in that role until 1915.

It is hard to exaggerate the way that the building dominates the southern part of downtown SLC, or, for that matter, measure the impact that its loss could have on the community. Nevertheless, when Salt Lake County built a sterile collection of new courthouse buildings twenty blocks south of downtown in the 1980s, Salt Lake City government officials were left with a $50 million question – should the building be preserved, or were its days of serving the community at an end? Was it simply too expensive to preserve? Making that decision all the more difficult was the need to conduct extensive seismic retrofitting – a process that would place the impossibly-heavy building on steel and rubber “shock absorbers’ that would move in case of earthquake – due to Salt Lake City’s location on the Wasatch Fault.

There was debate and more debate. During that time, I first became aware of an organization called the “Utah Heritage Foundation.” To be honest, at the time I had little to no idea what statewide preservation organizations did, or, for that matter, about the field of historic preservation itself. All I knew is that was a group that was standing up and being counted in the process. The Foundation conducted petition drives, facilitated the exchange of information, and championed the project from the start. One of the very first petition signatures of my life was to support their efforts.

On the evening of the fateful final vote, I could not stay away. I attended the meeting in the Salt Lake City Council Chambers, housed in the City-County Building, and I was the person that sat directly underneath the life-sized portrait of Brigham Young that still graces that room. I was in the prime spot, therefore, to watch the Council courageously vote to tackle the massive project.

Many years later, and long after I had left Utah with my wife and newly-born son to return to Ohio for law school, I had occasion to watch the television broadcast covering the announcement of the location for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The network provided a split-screen view of each candidate community, with a crowd gathered in hopeful anticipation, poised to cheer if their city’s name was read. Imagine my great happiness when the camera showed the group from Salt Lake City, standing not before Temple Square or the Utah State Capitol, but rather in front of the Salt Lake City & County Building. Of course, it was their turn to celebrate.

There is power in the built environment, my friends, to bind communities together and to provide a powerful sense of place of Olympic proportions. I have witnessed similar stories of success in Ohio communities, large and small, as they come to an awareness of the value of their own historic resources. Those scenes and stories never fail to inspire, or to remind me of what I witnessed many years ago.

Photo: Salt Lake City & County Building -- Shawn Econo/Creative Commons License

Save America’s Treasures Changes Application Process

Staff — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:30:00 -0400

The National Park Service has announced that the process used to apply for Save America’s Treasures grants has been changed, due to the current inaccessibility of the regular federal grants site (www.grants.gov). To apply for the grants, it is now required to register for a SAT application number and to download forms from a new application website -- which can be accessed by clicking here. Applications must be received before May 22, 2009.

Save America's Treasures grants are available to properties with documented national historic significance. According to the SAT website, it is "one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation’s endangered and irreplaceable and endangered cultural heritage. Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites."

History Blogging

Staff — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:44:00 -0400

Just a quick note this time to acquaint our readers with a recent update to a feature on MyHometownOhio.

As you know, our Ohio Preservation News Reader in the left column provides instantly updated news about preservation, revitalization, heritage tourism and smart growth in the Buckeye State. Now, the reader also includes access to a collection of history and museum related blogs, including blogs from the Ohio Historical Society (including their Ohio Archeaology Blog) and the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, as well as local history blogs from Cleveland, Mansfield, Toledo and Sandusky.

If you know of another regularly-updated history blog in Ohio, please let us know; we’d be happy to add it as well.

Photo: Serpent Mound - OZinOH/Creative Commons License

Stimulus Brownfield Monies Available

Staff — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:34:00 -0400

The following was received this morning from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, profiling plans of the Ohio Department of Development to tap into $100,000,000 available in funds for assessment and cleanup of brownfield locations. As the notice shares, eligible local governments and non-profits can include their projects in a pipeline being established through the Department. Timing is important, however; projects must be posted by March 30.

The Fact Sheet included in the notice (available by clicking here) includes a statement that projects that ask only for asbestos removal will have priority placement if they involve “historic buildings.”

Dear Brownfield Stakeholder:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. The Recovery Act purpose and goal is to “to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.” ( www.Recovery.gov)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated $100 million in additional funds to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Brownfields program. This is a nationally competitive program for the assessment and cleanup of brownfield properties. Government entities and non-profit organizations may apply directly to EPA for these funds. It is anticipated the EPA will release a notice into the Federal Register detailing guidelines regarding application submittals this week. The timeline for distribution and administration of these dollars is very short. Additional information is available on EPA’s brownfield website: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/eparecovery/index.htm

The Ohio Department of Development will be applying to the EPA to support brownfield cleanup and redevelopment statewide. Our Urban Development Division has successfully received grants of this type in the past and is well positioned to request significant cleanup dollars and to work in partnership with the communities to have an impact around the state. In preparation, the Department needs to create a pipeline of potential projects given the criteria listed on the enclosed fact sheet. The Department, if awarded, will administer and target the funds for these particular categories of brownfield projects: asbestos abatement, hazardous substance projects in the Ohio Voluntary Action Program and petroleum projects regulated by the Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations.

If you have a viable project in one of these categories, please read the enclosed fact sheet then fill out the web form available at http://development.ohio.gov/recovery/recoveryform/ so we may include your project in our list of projects by Monday, March 30, 2009 at 12 p.m. EDT.

Important Note: Although you may have already submitted a request on recovery.ohio.gov, it is necessary to provide your project information on the web form for the Department’s funding request to US EPA. Submitting information to either the receovery.ohio.gov site or on the web form does not indicate application submittal or funding approval. If the Department receives funding, projects will be prioritized for their readiness to proceed and creation/retention of jobs.

Photo: BoomerATV/Creative Commons License

Around Ohio

Staff — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:25:00 -0400

Our new news and Twitter reader on the left column of MyHometownOhio contains a constantly-updated selection of preservation, downtown revitalization, heritage tourism and smart growth stories from Ohio-based media. Every so often we highlight some of those stories that we believe merit special attention. Here are some recent news stories that have captured our interest:

Two of properties included on the 2008 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Sites have been in the news recently. First, residents of the Village of Greenhills continues to debate the future of the planned New Deal community as they come together to fashion the community’s first-ever comprehensive plan. Concerns have been raised about what was perceived as the Village government’s objective to revitalize Greenhills through removal of original buildings and replacement with more “attractive” housing stock. Click here for a recent Cincinnati Enquirer story.

Second, there was potential good news recently in Dayton in the sale of the Arcade Building complex to a pair of Wisconsin developers. The duo certainly know about large-scale renovation projects, as pointed out in this Dayton Daily News story. The story also recounts a basic chronological history of the building.

Elsewhere in Ohio, a development group in Springfield is asking for permission to demolish the venerable Memorial Hall, a Frank Packard-designed city-registered landmark. Stated plans call for the possible retention of the façade and interior elements (doors, etc.). Unstated plans suggest that the site will become yet another chain drug store. The Springfield Preservation Alliance is hosting a public forum on the issue at on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Heritage Hall.

The Cleveland Restoration Society recently issued a statement concerning pending plans of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to shutter a large number of parish churches in Northwest Ohio. In their statement, CRS profiles not only the issue and the history of their involvement with the Diocese, but their plans to deal with the challenges presented with the closure of significant historic structures worth preserving.

The economy is cited as the primary reason for owners to close the landmark 1924 Vernon Manor Hotel in Avondale. The structure not only has a history of welcoming national celebrities but which was its own star of sorts in the movie “Rainman.” Read this Cincinnati Enqurier story to learn more.

Ohio’s sustainable growth organization, Greater Ohio, recently discussed its involvement with the proposed Community Regeneration, Sustainability and Innovation Act, which would create both mechanisms and funding for older Ohio communities to deal with the problems of vacant, abandoned and decaying housing. This blog article also references a Columbus Dispatch story on the effort, which is led in part by US Senator Sherrod Brown.

Photo: Interior, St. John Cantius Catholic Church, Cleveland (built 1925) - Eddie~S/Creative Commons License