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PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 05
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Preservation Action President Responds to Misguided Historic Preservation Editorial in New York Times
Preservation Action President, Russ Carnahan, submitted a letter to the editor in response to the New York Times editorial titled "Historic Preservation is Hurting Cities" published on January 26th by Binyamin Appelbaum. The misguided editorial argues that historic preservation prevents energy efficiency upgrades, like solar panels, and is contributing to the affordable housing crisis. Respectfully, the author is wrong on both counts.
The editorial cites just one example of solar panels being denied in the Capitol Hill Historic District in Washington, D.C, ignoring the countless examples from across the country where energy efficiency upgrades, like solar panels, work seamlessly within local historic districts. With regards to housing affordability, historic buildings are a primary source for affordable housing and through programs like the Historic Tax Credit, historic preservation is used as tool for communities to stabilize neighborhoods and spur economic development. A recent PlaceEconomics report cites event more reasons historic preservation is good for cities.
Preservation Action strongly disagrees with how Mr. Appelbaum characterizes historic preservation. Check out Russ Carnahan's full response below.
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New Proposed Executive Order Would Make Classical Architectural Style the Default Style for Federal Buildings
A new draft Executive Order, titled "Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again", would make the classical architectural style the default and preferred style for federal buildings. The executive order could be on the President's desk by next month. The proposed order would rewrite the Guiding Principle of Federal Architecture which specifically states that "an official style must be avoided". This draft order, if adopted, could have dramatic impacts on new federal buildings across the country, including federal projects in historic districts, and even on the renovation of existing federal buildings.
Preservation Action joins the growing group of architectural and historic preservation organizations in opposing this proposed executive order. As stated by our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the draft order puts at risk federal buildings across the country that represent our full American story and is "inconsistent with the values of historic preservation". Check out the full statements from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Docomomo US, and the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) to learn more.
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National Heritage Area Bill Advances in House Natural Resources Committee
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Rep. Paul Tonko speaking during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in 2016.
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Last week, the full House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the National Heritage Area Act of 2019 (H.R 1049), sending it the House floor for consideration. This bill has strong bipartisan support and would make several important changes to National Heritage Areas (NHAs)
including standardizing a set criteria for new NHAs, modernizing the program to ensure long-term sustainability, and replacing funding caps with an annual authorization amount of $700,000 for every National Heritage Area. During the hearing the bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) spoke in support of the bill. The Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and the committee's Ranking Member, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) also spoke in support of this important bill.
The National Heritage Area program launched in 1984 as a cost effective way of telling America's stories, and conserving the nation's cultural, natural, and historic resources. NHAs rely on public-private funding where every federal dollar allocated is matched with an average of $5.50 in public and private funds. However, the program has suffered from chronic under-funding. While the number of new NHAs has doubled since 2004, funding for the program has only increased by 33%.
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Registration Now Open for National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week!
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| Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) speaking at Advocacy Week 2019 |
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Registration for National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week is now open! Join 250 fellow preservationists, March 10th - 12th in Washington, DC, as we storm the Hill! One of the most effective ways of sharing information with Congress is through direct meetings, and Advocacy Week is our annual opportunity to have a mass impact on opinion leaders and policy makers. Together with a cohesive message in support of preservation-positive legislation we can ensure a strong future for the federal historic preservation program.
Register before February 14th to lock in the best rates.
Advocacy Week
registration
includes in-depth training, policy briefings, meetings with elected officials and white papers from an array of preservation and policy professionals. Ticketed events offer additional meetings with elected officials, their staff, and a national network of preservation advocates.
Special Room Rate Ends Next Week
Special Kimpton Hotel Palomar $274 room rate expires on February 8th. Call
1-877-866-3070 with room block code "NCSHPO March 2020" to make reservations.
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National News
Stories From the States
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