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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-16-2006-6aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 16, 2006 Action Agenda Item No. ~ _q SUBJECT: National Historic Preservation Month DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource Conservation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1) Resolution 2) Press Release from National Tnrst President Richard Moe on National Preservation Month INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Stancil, 245-2590 Tina Moon, 245-2583 Cathleen Turner, 732-7741 PURPOSE: To proclaim May as National Historic Preservation Month, BACKGROUND: For years, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has proclaimed a single week in May as National Historic Preservation Week. Last year, the Trust extended the program to include the entire month, On May 1, 2006, Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched the second annual National Preservation Month with the theme, "Sustain America -Vision, Economics, and Preservation," (See Attachment #2 for press release.) National Preservation Month offers an opportunity for Orange County and local partners to reflect on efforts to preserve the built environment and associated heritage, Historic Preservation has contributed to the County's local economic development, The most visible example is the Alexander Dickson House, which serves as the visitor center for the Town of Hillsborough and the headquarters far the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. The new logo for the Chapel Hill visitor center and the Orange County Economic Development Commission features elements of symbolic historic buildings from the three municipalities -Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. Other examples of preservation activity, less visible perhaps but no less important, include: • Emphasizing the importance of designing the new justice facility in a way that respects the historic fabric of downtown Hillsborough, particularly the Greek Revival courthouse attributed to John Berry and known throughout the state as an example of that style; • Establishing the Quick Response Team, a partnership between the Historic Preservation Commission (ERCD) and the Building Inspections Division (Planning & Inspections) to document buildings 50 years or older before approving a demolition permit (Orange County is likely the first county in the state to create such as program,); 2 • Sponsoring cultural and archaeological surveys of county park sites as part of the master design process; • Stabilizing existing historic buildings on county park sites for future uses, particularly the Laws House at the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area; and • Discussing the North Carolina Rehab Code pilot program. These examples represent a sample of the County's efforts to promote historic preservation and to use preservation far local economic development and coalition building. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board proclaim the month of May as National Historic Preservation Month, with the theme, "Sustain America -Vision, Economics, and Preservation." ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROC~.AMATION FOR NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH WHEREAS, historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability; and WI IEREAS, historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all wants of life and all ethnic backgrounds; and WHEREAS, it is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; and WHEREAS, "S:rstainAna~rira - Vision, Econonncr, andPyese~uriwn" is the theme for National Preservation Month 2006, cosponsored by the Onmge County Board of Conunissioners, the Orange CountyHLStoric Preservation Commission, the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and WHEREAS, Orange County has demonstrated its commitment to historic preservation by using the restored Alexander Dickson House as the Hillsborough visitor center, providing economic development in a way that makes local history engaging the public; NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange CountyBoard of C'.ommissioners herebyproclaims May 2006 as National Preservation Month and calls upon the people of Orange Countyto join their fellow citizens across the United States in recognizing and participating in this special observance. This the sixteenth day of May, 2006. Barry Jacobs, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioner; The National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize our communities Statement From National Trust President Richard Moe on National Preservation Month 2006 marks some of the most significant milestones in the history of the American preservation movement Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2006) -May is National Preservation Month. To kick off this month-long celebration of the nation's diverse and irreplaceable heritage, National Trust President Richard Moe today released the following statement: During Preservation Month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Its hundreds of thousands of partners and members throughout the country have a huge cause to celebrate. This is the anniversary year for some of the most significant legislative milestones in the history of the American preservation movement. To begin with, 2006 is the 100th anniversary of the Antiquities Act, which greatly expanded the federal role In preservation by authorizing the President to protect historic structures and archaeological sites on Federally-owned land by designating them national monuments. Today, in light of growing concern over the future of the many historic resources on lands managed by federal agencies such as BLM and the Forest Service, we have extra reason to be grateful for the presence of this far-sighted and essential piece of legislation that enabled the creation of such American icons as the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and, most recently, the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. Also marking an anniversary this year is the 1966 Department of Transportation Act, which established Section 4(f), the strongest federal preservation law on the books. it has saved many historic sites -including New Orleans' French Quarter, Fisherman's WharF in San Francisco, and Baltimore's Fort McHenry, site of the bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem - from being paved over or otherwise harmed by transportation projects. The Tax Reform Act, established in 1976, was the first legislation to offer a federal income-tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. While this first credit was not widely used, expanded versions of it sparked the biggest preservation "boom" we've ever known, These tax incentives have stimulated more than $33 billion In private investmenC; rehabbed more than 32,000 historic properties; and renovated or created more than 300,000 housing units, more than 75,000 of them for low- and moderate-income residents, The success of the federal program has led many states to adopt their own preservation tax Incentives. Finally, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) is 40 years old in 2006, and in terms of its far-reaching Impact on our day-to- day work in preservation, It may be the most important law of all. It established the National Register of Historic Places as the federal government's official list of properties worth preserving and gave "ordinary" private citizens a chance to step up and say what's Important to us and therefore worth preserving. NHPA also created the President's Advisory Council as a watchdog to help ensure that federal agencies - or any agencies using federal funds or licenses -fulfill their preservation obligations, thereby ensuring that our tax dollars are not being used in ways that have negative impacts on our heritage. Finally, NHPA led directly to the appointment of a State Historic Preservation Officer to monitor historic resources in each state, and set up a program that provided federal matching grants to support their work in addition to helping prevent the loss of places that people care about, the philosophy embodied in these pieces of legislation helped move preservation into the mainstream of American life.. It helped people realize that saving our legacy from the past isn't someone else's job. It helped foster the notion that our heritage Isn't something to be kept behind velvet ropes. It opened our eyes to the fact that we can -and should -keep our history alive and close at hand where we can live with it, learn from It and be inspired by it. In short, these laws helped preservation make a dramatic difference in the way American communities look and in the way Americans value their heritage. With this in mind, the National Trust today launches its second annual National Preservation Month, acoast-to-coast celebration of our nation's diverse and unique heritage. We invite all Americans to mark the occasion by participating in local and regional events during May and by supporting the National Trust and other preservation organizations throughout the year. For ideas on how to celebrate National Preservation Month, please visit www.nationaitrust.org or call 1-800-944-NTH P. 1785 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2117 • tel: 202.588.6000 • 800-.944.6847 • fax: 202.588.6038 ©2006 National Trust for Historic Preservation. All rights reserved. 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