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