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2023 January Preservation ePost

A Look Back at 2022


The year 2022 was another busy and productive one for the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP). Staff once again worked closely and successfully with state and federal agencies and tribal partners on Section 106 and 110 reviews and programmatic agreements. Our office also saw another full slate of impressive properties nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources, along with California Historical Landmark and Points of Historical Interest designations. Additionally, four federal rehabilitation tax credit projects achieved certification in 2022. The scanning and digitization of OHP data continued throughout the year, as we to work to achieve the goal of fully accessible information.


There were some highlights during the year that were particularly satisfying and noteworthy. We were honored to be awarded a grant from the California Department of Technology to develop an Inventory Management and Workflow system for our office and the Information Centers of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS). This will make our database of records more reachable and useful for agencies, researchers, and the public.


This year also saw a draft completed for the historic context statement, Native Americans and the California Mission System, with finalization expected in early 2023. The Mission context is one of four historic contexts on which our office collaborated with community partners to help tell a fuller, more inclusive story of California. The other contexts are Latinos in Twentieth Century California, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California, and, currently under development, a context focused on African American sites and history.


Finally, we are pleased to announce the California State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program has moved a step closer to public launch. By the end of 2022, both our office (OHP) and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) had completed proposed draft regulations for the tax program and plan to move them forward this month for review by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). The regulations will then be posted for a 45-day review and comment period. We will send out a special email once the regulations are available for that review.


We look forward to 2023 and what promises to be a progressive year for the OHP and California's heritage!

The OHP is Hiring in 2023!


We are starting off the new year by hiring for two positions in our office:


Supervisor, Local Government and Environmental Compliance Unit

This position requires excellent writing and organizational skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with OHP management and staff, and outside parties. Responsibilities will include, among others, coordinating and supervising, on a statewide level, the Local Government Program and the Section 106 and Public Resources Code 5024 Environmental Review Programs of the OHP. 

Final Filing Date: January 24, 2023


Associate State Archaeologist, Archaeology and Environmental Compliance Unit

The candidate for this position will have a solid background in the practice of archaeology and pertinent laws and regulations. Responsibilities will include, among others, reviewing, commenting on, or preparing documents that deal with the identification, evaluation, and treatment of cultural resources, and communicating effectively with OHP staff, preservation partners, and local, state, and federal agencies.

Final Filing Date: January 24, 2023


Join our team!

Hail and Farewell

As many of you may have realized from the hiring notice posted earlier in this ePost, Lucinda "Cindy" Woodward, longtime supervisor of the OHP's Local Government and Environmental Compliance Unit, has retired after more than 45 years in state service, including here at the OHP.


When Cindy started at the OHP, she was one of the staff members working on federal and state agency project review. In 2000, the office recognized a need to provide specialized technical assistance and training on programs that had historically been spread throughout the various units at the OHP, yet all centered around historic preservation at the local government level. Cindy agreed to take on leadership of the newly created Local Government and Environmental Compliance Unit. Under her leadership, the unit staff set out to provide the best support possible to California communities, including among others, conducting workshops throughout the state, and overseeing the awarding and implementation of Certified Local Government grants. For twenty-two years, Cindy positively and encouragingly guided cities and counties through their preservation related successes and challenges, all while mentoring staff, both at the OHP and local level. In recent years, Cindy also supervised OHP project review staff, throwing herself into transportation, military, and other Section 106 consultations with the same commitment and knowledge that she brought to the Local Government Program. Staff have benefited greatly from her thoughtful guidance and problem-solving approach to project review.


Cindy’s contributions and efforts on behalf of the OHP, local governments, and historic preservation will continue long after her time in our office. We will miss her presence here as colleague and friend but wish Cindy the best as she now embarks on time spent relaxing, traveling, gardening, and reading all those books for which she never had time. Best wishes!

Important Steps Toward Improved Tribal Consultation


On November 30, 2022, the Biden Administration issued a Presidential Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation. As stated in the body of the memorandum, “The purpose of this memorandum is to establish uniform minimum standards to be implemented across all agencies regarding how Tribal consultations are to be conducted. This memorandum is designed to respond to the input received from Tribal Nations regarding Tribal consultation, improve and streamline the consultation process for both Tribes and Federal participants, and ensure more consistency in how agencies initiate, provide notice for, conduct, record, and report on Tribal consultations.”


The current memorandum builds on the principles and policymaking criteria regarding Tribal consultations set forth in Executive Order 13175, and in a previous Presidential Memorandum of January 26, 2021. In addition to the Uniform Standards, the White House also issued, in early December, government-wide guidance on recognizing and including Indigenous Knowledge in Federal research, policy, and decision making.

Funding to Start Off the New Year


California Humanities offers grants to support projects and efforts to educate about and preserve California's diverse cultural heritage.

Application deadlines range from January 17 to November 1, 2023.


National Trust Preservation Funds support preservation efforts at the local level. 

Application Deadline: February 1, 2023.


National Fund for Sacred Places provides grants to support the preservation of historic places of worship.

Letters of Intent Due February 24, 2023. 


Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors supports the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. Application Deadline: March 1, 2023. 


Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation funds efforts to preserve historic environments and foster an appreciation for the diverse cultural heritage of our country.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2023. 



(Photos courtesy of NTHP, Cal Humanities, & National Fund for Sacred Places)

Designating California!

The month of January marks the birthday of master architect Julia Morgan (January 20) and the start of Chinese New Year 2023 (January 22). In recognition of both, we feature here the San Francisco Chinatown YWCA, designed by Julia Morgan, and constructed in 1932.


For the Chinatown YWCA, Morgan consulted with the local Chinese community and designed the building with Chinese architectural features and motifs incorporated into the exterior and interior design, including tiles imported from China, three towers, a courtyard with koi pond, decorative wall panels, and a dragon painted on the floor. The building was a gathering place for women to socialize, take classes, and receive legal and job assistance.


The YWCA owned and operated the site until the late 1990s when the building was sold to the Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA), a non-profit organization that sponsors publications, conferences, lectures, and youth programs. Today, the historic YWCA building houses the CHSA museum and learning center. The Chinatown YWCA is designated as San Francisco Historical Landmark 122. 



Photo courtesy of CHSA.

State Historical Resources Commission


The SHRC meets quarterly each year. Commission meetings are open to the public and live-streamed through the Cal-Span network. Meeting dates, times, and agendas are posted to the SHRC Meeting Schedule and Notices page of the OHP website.

 

For upcoming nominations, visit the Pending Nominations page. Nominations already heard by the Commission are listed on the Actions Taken page, and video recordings of SHRC meetings are posted to the Meeting Recordings & Summaries page.

 

Learn more about the responsibilities and role of the SHRC.

News, Education, & More

Free NTHP Webinar

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) is offering a free webinar, State Historic Tax Credit Incentives: Tools and Perspectives for Building Stronger and More Vibrant Communities. The webinar takes place January 24, 2023, at 1:00pm Pacific Time. Registration is required.


Learn about other NTHP webinars.

CPF 2023 Preservation Awards Accepting Nominations

There is still time to submit nominations for the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) 2023 Preservation Design Awards, recognizing excellence in historic preservation. An awards ceremony will take place in April 2023 at Fort Mason, San Francisco, and stream online as well.

Nomination Deadline: January 27, 2023.

2023 Doors Open California - Seeking Hosts

The California Preservation Foundation is seeking partners and hosts for their 2023 Doors Open California event, set to take place September 9-10. The event provides an opportunity to show off some of the historic resources throughout the state, and allow Doors Open participants to explore historic buildings not always available to the public.

Deadline to Submit Ideas: February 6, 2023.

Summer Internships with HABS and LHIP

The Historic American Building Survey (HABS) has been selected to host two architectural student interns through the Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP). The 11-week paid internships, based at HABS headquarters in Washington, D.C., will allow the internees to visit and produce field measurements and measured drawings documenting the historic Rio Vista Bracero Reception Center in Socorro, Texas.

Application Deadline: February 6, 2023.

ACHP Offering Section 106 Webinars

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is accepting registrations for their 2023 Section 106 webinar series, offering training on a variety of Section 106 procedures and topics.

Free, On-Demand Training from the NPI

The National Preservation Institute (NPI) is offering a timely, on-demand course: Finding New Sources of Funding in Challenging Times. The course is free with registration required.

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