Contact Congress and ask it to support the Historic Preservation Fund

We're sharing a very important email from the National Trust asking you to contact your Congressional representatives and urge them to support funding for the Historic Preservation Trust (HPF). As the cornerstone of the federal historic preservation program, the HPF provides support for a wide range of projects and programs across the nation,  including many right here in our own community. (Need to know why this funding, which includes tax incentives for revitalization, matters--even in this tight fiscal environment? Check out the video below, which helps explains the value of Preservation Tax Incentives.) 

Ask your Representative to Support the Historic Preservation Fund

Right now Congress is making important decisions about the Fiscal Year 2012 budget, and your Representative needs to hear that funding for historic preservation matters in your community.  You can help make the case for preservation!

Ask your Representative to sign on to the Dear Colleague letter sponsored by Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus co-chairs Michael Turner and Russ Carnahan that requests $70 million for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and ask that they also submit a programmatic request to fund the HPF at that amount for FY12.

The preservation community realizes that during tough economic times we all need to tighten our belts and therefore the FY12 funding request for the HPF is 10% less than the total funding these programs received in FY08. We also recognize a long overdue increase for funding to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO’s) and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPO’s) and support the administration’s budget request for increase to these programs.  The breakdown of our $70 million request for the Historic Preservation Fund includes:

• $50 million for the State Historic Preservation Offices
• $11 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
• $9 million for grant programs like Save America’s Treasures and Preserve America

The deadline for this action is Tuesday, May 17^th, so please contact your Representative TODAY.  Check here for a list of signatories who have already committed to the Dear Colleague letter.

PLEASE HELP! Programs, jobs, historic resources — so much depends on this Historic Preservation Fund budget. All you have to do is sign the letter. You don’t even have to write the letter or look up the appropriate representative. It will take seconds.

SIGN THE LETTER HERE.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Just in time for Cyber Monday, some interesting ideas from the National Trust for Historic Preservation on how to put a little history into your holiday shopping. We're fans of the Lego Architectural collection, which lets you guild your own replica of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

Holiday Gift Ideas

What Does “Walkability” Say About Your Neighborhood?

Written by Erica Stewart

Given the dearth of positive real estate news as of late, I was happy to read the new report by Joseph Cortright for CEOs for Cities. The finding: homes that are located within walking distance to neighborhood amenities including shops, restaurants, schools, libraries and public transportation have higher property values.

In Cortright’s report, “Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities,” he examined real estate data in 15 major markets and determined that in 13 of those markets, high levels of walkability were connected to higher home values. His methodology used Walk Score, which measures the proximity of amenities such as restaurants, parks, coffee shops, grocery stories, etc. to calculate “Walk Scores” for the 15 markets. A Walk Score of 100 is the most pedestrian-friendly while 0 is car heaven. Scores of 70 and above indicate high levels of walkability. Cortright found a one-point increase in a Walk Score correlated to an increase in home values from $700 to $3,000, depending on the density of the city being researched. >> Read the rest of the article at the National Trust's blog Preservation Nation.

October 13-17, 2009

If preservation is your passion, then I know you wouldn't want to miss this. You will learn about the challenges and successes that shaped Nasheville from frontier hardships, Civil War battles, civil rights struggles, and the development of American music. See how they make the New South energy thrive in their Main Street communities. Learn about the challenges they faced as they worked with plantations and farms, town squares, battlefields, city streets, historic African-American institutions, 19th and 20th century neighborhoods, and music venues from intimate bars to the world-famous Ryman Auditorium.

In the workshops you will learn to identify economically, socially and environmentally sustainable practices to invigorate your preservation efforts; expand your knowledge and think in a different way about Modernism + Recent Past resources with new strategies and approaches; and implement your plans with tips and trade secrets from finance and real estate experts.

And when the conference is over, you'll be armed with successful tactics and lessons from colleagues across the country so you can come home recharged with ideass and energy for Riverside and Avondale. Visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation for more information.

“Ladies, the home of Washington is in your charge.”

Mount Vernon (Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a great story about the home of George Washington – how it was almost lost and and how it was saved by a mother and her daughter and the amazing women of the Mount Vernon’s Ladies Association. Read more about Mount Vernon Ladies Association here. And about the three most influential women of that organization here.

You will be inspired and realize that with determination, persistence and hard work, almost anything can be accomplished!

The 2009 National Preservation Auction

From May 1 through 31, the 2009 National Preservation Month Auction is offering a number of fun and unique items to bid on to raise money for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Our catalog features unique get-aways, behind-the-scene or specialized tours of historic places, stays at amazing historic hotels, books, home items and much more.

Shown above is a limited edition, signed print by Don Stivers of "Taking of Burnside's Bridge at Antietam,” just one of the items available.

Start a Conversation about “Places that Matter”

Do you have a favorite building or place that everyone needs to know about? Are you afraid that one day it will be remuddled or torn down? The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently launched This Place Matters campaign, to help people call attention to special places in their community before they are endangered. I'm sure there are a few places in North Florida that come to mind. Tell your story, celebrate a place you love, sound an alarm about a place that is threatened, or just start a conversation about a place that matters by telling the world.

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has an interesting take on the new stimulus plan that President Obama just signed into law. Read how this could effect preservation.