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July 2017 Preservation News & Events
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Kerri Broome to Lead
Lorain County Historical Society
Kerri Broome, Director of Development and Publications, has accepted the position of Executive Director for the Lorain County Historical Society. Kerri joined CRS in 1996 after graduating from Cornell's Historic Preservation Planning program and began work in the Neighborhood Preservation Program. Over the years, her responsibilities have expanded to include key roles in grants, membership, and publications, including serving as the editor of
Facade, CRS's signature publication, for the past 25 issues. She is also the editor of this email newsletter.
The Lorain County Historical Society, founded in 1889, has the mission to serve all persons and organizations interested in Lorain County's past, present and future by collecting, preserving, interpreting and presenting the history of Lorain County. As the Executive Director, Kerri will provide the leadership and vision to operate their two museums, educational programming, community outreach and special events.
Kerri and her family live in Lorain County. The board and staff of CRS wish her all the best.
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Annual Membership Meeting
Join us on Thursday, July 20 for the annual membership meeting of the Cleveland Restoration Society. CRS Members gather at 9:00 a.m. at the Sarah Benedict House, 3751 Prospect Avenue, for the election of trustees. Enjoy refreshments and a chance to have informal conversation with trustees and staff following the meeting.
Click here to RSVP.
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Tax Reform Update from the National Trust
While all eyes in Washington are on a possible Senate vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in July, tax reform is being crafted largely behind the scenes. White House economic advisor Gary Cohn recently commented that the "gang of six"- Cohn, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady - are meeting regularly behind closed doors to complete a "unified" tax reform bill that could be made public as early as September. At a June 20 speech to the National Association of Manufacturers, Speaker Ryan insisted, "We are going to get this done in 2017!"
Outside these gang of six meetings, opportunities to provide official stakeholder input into the tax reform process are limited. Chairman Brady held two hearings this spring to solicit pro-growth tax reform ideas and to consider options for raising revenue through the tax reform process, and Chairman Hatch released a letter on June 16 asking for public comment on tax reform priorities.
To date, the legislative strategy for advancing tax reform has been premised on passage of an FY18 budget that includes budget reconciliation instructions and reflects cost savings from the repeal and replacement of the ACA. Reconciliation instructions enable Senate Republicans to pass tax reform legislation by a simple 51-vote majority and avoid having to reach the filibuster-proof 60-vote threshold. Regardless of the success or failure of the health care vote, however, Senate Republican leadership is likely to look to the budget process to unlock their ability to use reconciliation.
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Tax Credit Advocacy: What You Can Do!
Also from the National Trust for Historic Preservation: Advocacy in support of the historic tax credit (HTC) has significantly increased since the beginning of the year. Many advocates coordinated in-district meetings and site visits during the April and May recesses, and the HTC campaign team welcomed advocates to Washington in conjunction with the Institute for Professional and Executive Development Historic Tax Credit Conference on June 14. More than 40 HTC advocates participated in the fly-in, meeting with more than 80 congressional offices. The campaign team is now encouraging advocates to request in-district meetings and site tours during the July and August recesses.
The Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act (HTCIA), H.R. 1158/S. 425, remains a primary advocacy tool that provides members of Congress an opportunity to indicate their support for the HTC and offers several reform ideas that could be incorporated into a larger tax bill. Adding cosponsors to the legislation is a critical step to protecting the HTC during the tax reform process. Sponsored by Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., in the House, the HTCIA continues to attract strong bipartisan support from 66 members - 34 Republicans and 32 Democrats - including 12 members of the Ways and Means Committee. The Senate version of the bill, introduced by Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, has 12 cosponsors - eight Democrats and four Republicans.
Showing members of Congress rehabilitated historic buildings is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate the value of the HTC. Congress is in recess now until July 8 and again July 31-September 4, which presents opportunities to meet with your congressional delegation. Contact your congressional representatives, and ask to speak with the scheduler to request in-district meetings.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Tax Credit Coalition, Preservation Action, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, and the National Main Street Center are circulating an HTC sign-on letter that calls on the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committee chairmen to protect the HTC in tax reform.
As mentioned, Senator Hatch is requesting stakeholder input about ways to reform the tax code. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to email letters to the Finance Committee by July 17. Please take this opportunity to weigh in and convey your support for the HTC.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming July 20 webinar for an update on federal and state HTC campaigns. Be sure to reserve your slot on the free webinar hosted by the National Trust's Government Relations department, and hear the latest about efforts to protect the HTC at the federal and state levels as well as tips on running effective advocacy campaigns for state HTCs.
Urge legislators to cosponsor the HTCIA. Together, we are building strong, bipartisan support for this invaluable legislation. Check to see whether your members of Congress have cosponsored the bill:
Senate co-sponsors
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Five Low-Cost Ways to Make Your City Wealthier
Groups across the country are innovating to affect change block by block, adapt big development ideas for smaller scales, and create real estate investment opportunities for the ordinary citizen. Read how the Better Block Foundation uses low cost interventions to prototype larger scale projects, the Incremental Development Alliance trains small scale developers to make small investments in existing neighborhoods, how Oswego is improving confidence in their neighborhoods, how Littleton, Colorado is recovering from massive corporate layoffs, and what a group in Pittsburgh is doing to create diversity in investment.
Click here for the full article.
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The Heritage Home Program(SM) welcomes Maple Heights and Strongsville as partner communities! Owners of homes of at least fifty years or more can take advantage of low interest loans from our partners Key Bank and Third Federal for home rehab, maintenance, and restoration projects. Free technical assistance is also available to these areas from our knowledgeable staff. Welcome to Maple Heights and Strongsville! Do you live in a non-participating community? Contact your mayor and tell him our program would benefit you by visiting our website.
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Ohio Bell Building Could Be Developed
A Texas development firm is in talks to develop the Ohio Bell Building. Currently the 1927 Art Deco building is used by AT&T for servers on the lower floors, but the upper levels are vacant. The company, Todd Interests, proposes to leave AT&T as is but develop floors nine though twenty-two into approximately 147 apartments. The proposal expects to seek federal and state historic tax credits as it sits in a national historic district and is eligible for the federal and state funds. The Cleveland Landmarks Commission however voted to recommend the Ohio Bell Building as a candidate for city landmark status, to ensure its historical integrity remains intact but also facilitate more access to preservation funds.
Photo courtesy Plain Dealer Historical Photograph Collection.
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K&D Group Moving Forward with
Halle Building
The K&D Group closed financing in June on their $60 million plans to renovate the Halle Building at 1228 Euclid Avenue. Financing the project was very difficult due to plans to renovate it as a mixed-use condominium building, with offices on the bottom floors and apartments on the upper floors. K&D plans to make larger apartments with up to three bedrooms to provide a space for families to move downtown and fill a niche in housing that Cleveland has been lacking, as more recent renovations have been geared towards young single professionals. K&D has had the property since 2012 and was awarded state historic tax credits in 2016. They hope to open fully next April.
Photo by David Kordalski.
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Erieview Tower Recommended to National Register
The Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory board voted in late June to recommend the Tower at Erieview for recognition in the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1964, the Tower only recently became eligible for consideration to the National Register. Built as part of an urban-renewal effort in the 1960s, the Tower at Erieview is one of the last vestiges of that effort which was concentrated between East 6th and East 17th Streets and Chester and Lakeside Avenues. If the Keeper of the National Register approves the recommendation, then the Tower could take advantage of Federal Historic Tax Credits as early as this fall. Although part of the tower will continue to be utilized as office space, a number of the middle floors are being considered for conversion to apartments as part of the rehabilitation.
Photo by Lisa DeJong, Plain Dealer.
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Policy Update for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit
Section 8.4 of the program policies on the certification process of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit projects has been updated. The policy now states that "the effective date for the tax credit certificate will be the date the certificate is signed by the director." The new policy went into effect on July 1, 2017 and applies to all applicants, including those already awarded a credit allocation, those who are applying in the current round, and any future awardees.
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Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Report from the Community
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture has made available its latest
report from the community, celebrating CAC's first decade and the next
. The report highlights all of the ways CAC helps hundreds of organizations connect millions of people to cultural experiences each year - in museums and performance halls, in nature and public spaces, in neighborhoods and online. Since 2007, CAC has made 1,607 grants to invest more than $158 million in 350 organizations, including the Cleveland Restoration Society - and we are so grateful for this support!
And, thanks to overwhelming voter support, CAC has 10 more years to support more vibrant programs and events.
Read more about this work and then and spread the word about the impact that these public dollars make in our communities!
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2017 Heritage Ohio Annual Awards Call for Nominations
Heritage Ohio is currently accepting entries for its annual preservation awards. All nominations must be received by July 17. Nominations that do not follow the formatting provided in the form and incomplete entries will not be accepted.
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Scholarship Opportunity for Heritage Ohio Conference
The Emerging Professionals Scholarship opportunity for Heritage Ohio's conference is also now available. Scholarship winners will receive the opportunity to present a mini-presentation on their preservation work, two nights at the conference hotel, $100 travel stipend, and complimentary conference registration. Proposals will be accepted until July 28.
Click here for more information.
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Employment Opportunity in NY
Historic Ithaca in Upstate New York is seeking a new Executive Director. This a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to lead a small, local nonprofit preservation organization.It's just not in NEO! Applications are being accepted through July 21.
Click here for more information.
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Create your ACTion Plan for We Plan 2017
APA Cleveland is pleased to present the schedule of events for We Plan CLE 2017. This week-long series of public events runs from July 24-28 at venues around Cleveland, and is designed to encourage citizen engagement in conversations about innovative ideas for urban planning and development. The 2017 theme is ACT! We all contribute to places that matter through collective civic visions and individual actions. We each have the power to improve our surroundings and make positive impacts in our community. All events are open to the public.
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The Cleveland Restoration Society is excited to collaborate with Downtown Cleveland Alliance on the 2017 Sparx City Hop. This signature event of Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a celebration of the arts and culture in Downtown Cleveland and the surrounding neighborhoods. The 2017 event will be held on Saturday, August 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CRS and St. John's Episcopal are working together during the City Hop so visitors can learn about this building's history, architecture and community engagement. The Institute at St. John's and CRS invite you to tour the oldest sacred landmark in Cleveland. St. John's Episcopal Church in Ohio City, a gothic revival building completed in 1836, was one of the first authenticated Underground Railroad sites, the original meeting place where the American Indian Movement was founded, and a hub for various community members to come together for worship, activism, and advocacy. Today, The Institute continues the tradition of addressing social justice by connecting with the community through arts and activism.
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Main Street Refresh Workshop
Join Heritage Ohio in Wooster, Ohio on September 6 for the third Revitalization Series workshop of this year, on the topic of the Refreshed Main Street Approach. The Michigan Main Street Center was the first state-wide coordinating program to roll-out the Main Street Refresh in all 21 of its participating communities. During this session, hear a highly interactive deep-dive of the new Main Street Approach as it has been implemented in Michigan. Practitioners there will share their process, tools and lessons learned so that you will be well equipped to begin implementing this approach in your own communities. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to explore Wooster, another one of Ohio's Main Street communities!
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Calendar
Now - December 31
Exhibit: "Endangered Antiquities"
Main Library, Special Collections John G. White Corridor, 3rd Floor
325 Superior Ave., Cleveland
Cleveland Public Library
July 13
"Transforming Community with Affordable Housing"
The Westin Downtown Cleveland, 777 Saint Clair Ave, NE, Cleveland
IPED
July 20
Annual Membership Meeting
Sarah Benedict House, 3751 Prospect Ave., Cleveland
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.,
registration required, FREE
Cleveland Restoration Society
July 20
Policy Webinar: "State (and Federal!) Historic Tax Credits"
National Trust for Historic Preservation
July 29
23rd Ohio Historical Marker Dedication
Woodland Cemetery, 6901 Woodland Ave., Cleveland
11:00 a.m., FREE
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Save the Date
August 12
SNOOP! of the Scofield Mansion
Levi Scofield Mansion, 2438 Mapleside Rd., Cleveland
Cleveland Restoration Society
August 19
Open House at St. John's Ohio City
Part of Sparx City Hop
St. John's Ohio City, 2600 Church Ave., Cleveland
Cleveland Restoration society
St. John's Episcopal Church
August 20
Cleveland Historic Underground Railroad Tour
Merwin's Wharf, 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland
Woodland Cemetery Foundation
September 6
Main Street Refresh Workshop
Wayne County Public Library Central Library
220 W. Liberty St., Wooster
Heritage Ohio
October 16-18
Heritage Ohio Annual Conference
Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square, Columbus
Heritage Ohio
October 26-29
17th National Conference on Planning History
Cleveland
November 14-17
PastForward National Preservation Conference
Palmer House Hilton, Chicago
National Trust for Historic Preservation
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