February 13, 2008

Nominees Sought For Historic Preservation Awards

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Nominations are welcome for the 2008 Annual Historic Preservation Awards. The awards are sponsored by the Grand Traverse Heritage Center and will be presented in May during National Preservation Week.

For a Historic Preservation Awards application, contact the Grand Traverse Heritage Center at 995-0313 or e-mail. Applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 14, for consideration.

Patti DeAgostino, Executive Director of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center, noted that the awards are designed to recognize excellence in the restoration, preservation, and rehabilitation of historic structures, sites, and environments in the Grand Traverse region.

She indicated there are nine categories for awards consideration: restoration, rehabilitation, preservation, adaptive reuse, special merit, preservation project of the year, rural structures, historic places, and community.

The Restoration Award recognizes a faithful and accurate restoration of a historic property to a prior state, based on physical or photographic documentation.

Exemplary and substantial rehabilitation of a history property is recognized by the Rehabilitation Award. The rehabilitation must facilitate contemporary uses while preserving its essential historical, cultural or architectural value in accordance with the Secretary of Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation.

The Preservation Award recognizes superior maintenance and repair of a historic property to preserve its essential historical, cultural or architectural value for a period of 10 years or more.

Those resources that have been successfully reused in another manner but do not fit into a category (i.e. civic/public building becomes a private residence) are recognized by the Adaptive Reuse Award.

The Special Merit Award recognizes special and unusual contributions or services to historic preservation in the Grand Traverse region.

Exemplary preservation work carried out on a historic property that serves the community as a whole is recognized by the Perservation Project of the Year Award.

The Rural Structure Award recognizes those rural historic resources such as barns, farm outbuildings, cabins or other historic structures that reside in rural communities outside of any actual town or village.

Excellence in the preservation or upkeep of an historic site or places (public and private) throughout the Grand Traverse region is recognized by the Historic Place Award. The places may include but are not limited to landscapes, cemeteries, gardens, parks, and archeological sites.

The Community Award recognizes associations, municipalities and/or other types of communities that have made historic preservation a significant priority in community planning.

To be eligible for an award, a property must be at least 50 years old (with the exception of the Special Merit Award), according to Fred Hoisington, Preservations Award Committee Chairman.

Hoisington explained that the nomination should be directed at the person(s), organization or entity financially responsible for the work that the award is given.

He noted in reviewing nominated property, the Committee will consider the historical or architectural value and significance of the structure and its relationship to the surrounding area.

In addition, the relationship of the exterior architectural features of the property to the rest of the property and surrounding area will be considered.

Other considerations include the general compatibility of the specific restoration, rehabilitation, or maintenance performed; the degree of compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Structures; the quality of design and executive of work; and other factors such aesthetics which the Committee considers pertinent.

Grand Traverse Heritage Center preserves, promotes, and presents the history of the Grand Traverse region.

Located at 322 Sixth Street in Traverse City, the center is home to the Museum of History and offices for the Maritime Heritage Alliance, Grand Traverse Pioneer & Historical Society, Women’s History Project of Northwest Michigan, Grand Traverse Area Rock & Mineral Club, and the Railroad Historical Society of Northwest Michigan.