Preserve America News |May
2012
New Report Hits Newsstands on Preservation and Energy Efficiency
The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently issued a new report, The Greenest Building: Quantifying the Environmental Value of Building Reuse, which concludes
that building reuse is almost always more environmentally friendly than
new construction. Through life cycle analysis of several building types,
the report quantifies the energy efficiency benefits of retaining and
reusing existing buildings. It is a groundbreaking report that local
decision makers should be aware of when considering how preservation of
historic properties can contribute to environmental sustainability.
Learn more about the report here.
First Lady Designates New Preserve America Steward
On May 9, First Lady Michelle Obama designated the
Texas Archeological Society
as a Preserve America Steward in recognition of its volunteer program. Preserve
America Steward designation recognizes programs that demonstrate a
successful use of volunteer time and commitment in order to help care
for our historic heritage.
Through
its volunteer program, the Texas Archeological Society provides the
manpower to assist state and federal agencies, universities and private
landowners in discovering and protecting archaeological sites on their
property. Through Field Schools, volunteers help to survey and excavate
sites, and to clean, catalog and inventory artifact collections.
Volunteers also help to measure, draw, describe and photograph rock art
throughout the state.
The ACHP currently is accepting applications for Preserve America Steward designation. Click
here for more information on how to apply.
New Preserve America Communities Illustrate America’s Varied Heritage
First
Lady Michelle Obama sent designation letters to five new Preserve
America Communities May 9, bringing the nationwide total to 877. The
newly designated communities are Colusa, Calif.; Albion, N.Y.; Mount
Pleasant, S.C.; Fort Pierre, S.D.; and Douglas, Wy.
The
rediscovery of a marker left by French explorers in 1743, the living
legacy of West African basket making traditions practiced by the Gullah
Geechee descendants of slaves and the preservation of murals of iconic
Wild West scenes painted by Italian POWs in a WWII camp are just some of
the American stories these communities tell. Visitors
can experience a longhorn cattle drive and other Western traditions, or
walk, bike or boat a 19th century commercial corridor along the Erie
Canal.
Applications from prospective new Preserve America Communities are accepted on a rolling basis. More information is available here.
The
program recognizes a select group of communities that use their
heritage resources in sustainable ways and encourage residents and
visitors to explore and enjoy their heritage. These latest designations
bring California to a total of 37 and New York to a total of 41
communities recognized. South Carolina now has 24 designated
communities, South Dakota seven and Wyoming 10.
A full list of Preserve America Communities, along with profiles and contact information, can be found here.
“It
is good news for the nation when communities demonstrate that they want
to enjoy and share the economic, educational, environmental and
sustainability benefits preservation provides, while creating more
vibrant and desirable places to live, work and visit.” said Wayne
Donaldson, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Colusa, Calif. Western Days
National Travel and Tourism Strategy Approved
Early
this year, the President signed Executive Order 13597 "Establishing
Visa and Foreign Visitor Processing Goals and the Task Force on Travel
and Competitiveness" focused on job creation through the travel and
tourism industry in the U.S., including improving U.S. prospects for
attracting and retaining overseas visitors and enhancing the domestic
travel situation.
Following
issuance of the E.O., which includes directives to improve visitor
processing by the Departments of State and Homeland Security, a Task
Force was set up (led by the Departments of the Interior and Commerce)
and charged with developing a National Tourism Plan and
Strategy. Staff from the ACHP participated in several meetings and
provided written comments in response to a Federal Register
notice as well as the draft plan. Input included suggestions
for promotion of distinctive regions, communities and cultural heritage
destinations in addition to national park units; enhancement of existing
research on travel and tourism; and highlighting special places in the
U.S. like designated World Heritage sites, National Heritage Areas and
National Scenic Byways.
On
May 10, the overall plan was approved by the White House and
released. It should be noted that World Heritage sites, Preserve
America and Scenic Byways are mentioned in the plan. The next challenge
will be to develop more detailed strategies to help implement the
plan. Read the White House release and a copy of the plan.
ACHP Rightsizing Task Force Taps Preserve America Communities
In
2011, the ACHP established a task force to examine and address the
issue of “rightsizing” in communities, including various steps cities
are taking to respond to shrinking populations in these older urban
communities. While many of the communities challenged by
rightsizing are located in the Northeast and the “Rust Belt,” a number
of cities in other areas of the nation are also affected.
Historic preservation is not typically included in the analysis of
alternatives to stabilize and revitalize these communities and
neighborhoods.
The
ACHP’s Rightsizing Task Force is chaired by ACHP Member Bradford
White and co-chaired by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Other members include the Departments of Housing and Urban Development,
Transportation, Interior, Agriculture; Environmental Protection Agency;
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers; National
Alliance of Preservation Commissions; the ACHP’s Alumni Foundation; and
the mayor of Columbus, Ohio.
Early
in its discussions the task force agreed further research on
rightsizing was required if the issue was to be fully understood from a
historic preservation perspective. Since the needed information was not
readily available, the Task Force solicited assistance from
PlaceEconomics to prepare a survey and analysis of a representative
sample of rightsizing communities. A report, “Historic Preservation
and Rightsizing—Current Practices and Resources Survey,” was submitted
to the ACHP in May 2012. Nearly half of the 20 surveyed cities turned
out to be designated Preserve America
Communities (Baltimore, Md.; Saginaw, Mich.; Binghamton, Buffalo,
Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Dayton, Ohio; and Harrisburg and
Pittsburgh, Penn.). Read the report.
Baltimore Inner Harbor (photo courtesy Maryland Office of Tourism)
Come to Virginia in July to Learn About Preserve America
The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum is July 18-22 in Norfolk.
In
addition to other planned presentations at the Forum, including a
session on the ACHP’s recent study of Measuring the Economic Impacts of
Historic Preservation on July 20 at 2 p.m., there will also be a brief
image-rich overview of the Preserve America program presented by the
ACHP’s Ron Anzalone at an “Ignite” session on July 20 at 3 p.m. Hope to
see you in Norfolk!
Read more about the conference.
Norfolk Waterside
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