Utah Heritage Foundation

New numbers were announced today on the productivity of investment in different sectors of the economy.  Here’s what was reported:

$1 million of government stimulus or incentive results in

                17 jobs in the green economy

For the past twelve years, Save America’s Treasures has been one of the country’s most important and effective historic preservation efforts, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars for restoration to nationally significant historic sites and special collections in all parts of the U.S.  The National Trust is proud of our role in establishing SAT and our subsequent work with three administrations.  We have been pleased to serve as the program’s principal private partner since its inception.   SAT is a program that has demonstrated its value many times over, as a generator of economic activity and as a symbol of our country’s commitment to ensuring that future generations understand the foundations on which our institutions and freedoms rest.

In the current difficult fiscal environment we face as a country, the federal SAT program was not included in the Administration’s FY11 budget request.  Despite strong and consistent support from preservationists, local government officials, historic site administrators, and many others, Congress is not reinstating any programs that the Administration did not include in its 2011 budget.  Likewise, SAT was not a part of the Administration’s FY12 budget request.  At the National Trust, we have had extensive conversations with Congressional leadership on the future of the program.  While many on the Hill remain supportive of the program, given the political landscape and the budget process now in place, it is clear that Congress will not restore the program’s funding in 2012.

With this conclusion, we have made the reluctant decision to close the Save America’s Treasures office at the National Trust.  SAT at the National Trust has been devoted to assisting sites with applications for the SAT program and helping successful applicants raise the required match. It has worked extensively and creatively with the country’s premier historic places and collections to raise public awareness and shine a bright spotlight on the importance of our cultural resources and the need for their conscientious stewardship. Among the more than 1,200 prestigious projects in which SAT at the Trust has played a critical role are: the restoration of the Star Spangled Banner, San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers, Martin Luther King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, and the Acoma Pueblo. Other beneficiaries have been the homes of such literary icons as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder. It also is responsible for supporting the restoration of the last architectural model of the World Trade Center and the related exhibits and interpretation. In addition to the model, when the National Memorial Museum at Ground Zero opens on Sept. 11, 2012, the Last Column – the last structural element removed from the site that contains signatures and graffiti from the families, workers and public officials – will have a prominent place thanks to support from SAT.

Preservation moratorium proposed at the local level

Senate Bill 243, Historic Areas or Sites Amendment, was released with text on Monday, February 7, 2011.  In brief, the bill proposes a year-long moratorium on designations, expenditures, and development agreements that involve historic structures at the city and county level beginning on May 10, 2011.  Utah Heritage Foundation believes that this bill has the ability to stop or seriously curtail preservation activities statewide at the local level - just at the time when policies are needed that encourage economic development through historic preservation and boost our economy.

Senate Bill 243 - Historic Areas or Sites Amendment

As some may know, we've had some discussions at UHF as to whether or not there would ever be sufficient volunteer support to get a statewide barn alliance going in Utah.  We'd love to get some momentum behind documenting the fabulous physical agricultural heritage in the state, as well as start considering how best to put some additional resources behind supporting this for promotion, support, technical assistance, and rehabilitation.

Today's article in the Salt Lake Tribune about the Holmgren Barn in Tremonton from 1940 recalls such traditional construction that I'm discussing.  Though the structure is noteworthy, there is certainly family history that is worthy of documentation as well, making the story even richer.  Fortunately, the current generation realizes this and is interested in receiving those that would like to visit.

You can read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here.
More about Holmgren Historical Farm.

Who said that economic times were slow?  Certainly not in Utah County.  You can witness rapid investment priming the pump of Utah’s economy all over Utah County, and especially in downtown Provo where the cranes are rising and trucks are hauling.

Unfortunately, one of the things the trucks are hauling is demolition debris from several older and historic buildings in Provo’s downtown historic district.  Yes, it was certainly time for some of these to probably go as they had been underutilized, unsupported by economic development programs for years, and thus neglected.  But there was still some charm and character in their scale and features and thus their contribution provided some good nature to being there.  Even in the last round of discussions with the Landmarks Commission, there was acknowledgment that in the future the city cannot allow contributing buildings to be altered, thus making them non-contributing buildings while they are listed in the local historic district or they will be de-listed and demolished just like these buildings.

So what the historic district is getting in place of handsome brick and stone, arched windows with lintels and keystones, Art Moderne and Victorian Commercial styles is glass, glass, and more glass.  On the North side, the Utah County convention center will take nearly an entire block and include a small plaza, but not include an entrance door along the entire stretch of 200 West, even though it looks like it does.

As many of you know, Draper has been a center of growth with many popular destinations.  It seems like 123rd South grows leaps and bounds every time I go there from Salt Lake.  There has been an admirable job with respect to historic preservation in the city and within walking distance of the new Draper Town Center will be the new future UTA Trax Stop at the old IFA site which will include an interpretive element about the community's agricultural history with regards to chicken farming.

Within walking distance to here is the Draper Park School.  Owned by the city, it was built in 1912 and is currently offered with it's site for redevelopment, which could include rehabilitation as part of a mixed use transit-oriented development.  Proposals are due by December 1st.  The Park School has had several additions to it over the years, enlarging it and was eventually named for John Rockey Park, the first president of the University of Utah for whom the Park Building at the U is also named on President's Circle.  Park School was eventually used as Draper's City Hall until the city built their most recent building and vacated the structure.

As the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are opportunities to reuse Park School and utilize the historic rehab tax credits.  More information on the credits can be found here and here.

The most sensible project today is one in your neighborhood that conserves an older building and employs sustainable design principles.  Architect James Kienle, AIA, puts together the argument as to why this isn’t only the beneficial move for planning, architecture, and neighborhood revitalization, but to bring us out of the recession.

And believe it or not, we still have Utahns doing small and large-scale preservation rehabilitation – from residential to small commercial to schools and community centers.  As the article argue, it makes sense and cents to ensure that these projects are high quality to match the longevity that historic buildings have already provided us, as well as realize the economic benefits you, as the investor, are making in the property.  And preservation shows our states that it pays for them to invest in incentive programs.

It’s the proverbial win-win situation for all of us and there are added incentives for Utahns seeking to do rehabilitation.  Check out the additions to our Financial Resources weblinks page.