Friday, November 3
7-10 p.m. Opening Reception
Joslyn Castle – 3902 Davenport St. Meet the speakers and exhibitors while viewing one of Omaha’s architectural gems.
Reception sponsored by the B. G. Peterson Co, Dundee Bank and the Nebraska State Historical Society
Saturday, November 4
University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Milo Bail Student Center at 62nd and Dodge Streets
8:00 a.m. Registration. Exhibits, Bookstore and Tool area open.
Refreshments sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center
9:00 a.m. Bob Yapp
Keynote Address “Turning Historic Neighborhoods Around”
Strauss Performing Arts Center Yapp’s visit made possible by a grant from the Charles Evan Hughes Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and funding from the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Nebraska Arts Council.
10:30 to 12:30 – Exhibits and Bookstore and Tool Areas Open
Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom and Maverick Buffet Room
Ask An Expert – Milo Bail Student Ballroom John Leeke 10:30 to 11:30 Bob Yapp 11:30 to 12:30
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Breakout Session 1 1:45 - 2:45 p.m. Breakout Session 2 rd
- 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. Refreshments – 3
- Floor Milo Bail Student Center
Refreshments sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Nebraska Medical Center
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Breakout Session 3 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Breakout Session 4
All Breakout Sessions will be in the Milo Bail Student Center 3rd Floor Breakout rooms and in the Strauss Performing Arts Center Auditorium
Sunday, November 5
9 to 1 p.m. Windows Workshop 10 to Noon Plaster, Electrical or Wood Lathe Workshops
Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus Industrial Training Center Just off Kennedy Freeway at 27 and Q Streets
The hands-on workshops are sponsored by Friends of Joslyn Castle through a grant they received from the Mutual of Omaha Foundation.
- 1 to 5 p.m.
- Midtown Neighborhood Tours of the Joslyn Castle,
Gifford Park and Bemis Park Neighborhoods
Tour sponsored by the Bemis Park and Joslyn Castle Neighborhood Associations through grants from the Omaha Community Foundation’s Neighborhood Grant Program provided by the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation. Tour organized by Landmarks, Inc.
Conference Planning Committee
Martin Janousek, AIA, Chairman Restore Omaha
Norita Collar, Community Development Coordinator, City of Omaha Chris Foster, Gifford Park Neighborhood Association
Vince Furlong, Omaha Main Streets
Deb Grayson, Writer and Editor, Suburban Newspapers
Jennifer Honebrink, AIA, President Landmarks Inc.
Jennifer Johns, Designer, Eurowoods Cabinets
K. Michael Joyce Jr., HDR
Cate Kratville, Dundee-Memorial Park Association and the
Neighborhood Center of Greater Omaha
Russ Lane, Metropolitan Community College Nano Little, Executive Director, Friends of Joslyn Castle
Nicole Ludacka, Intern Architect Deb Peterson, B. G. Peterson Co.
Julie Reilly, Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center
Cindy Tooker, AIA, President 2020 Omaha
Katie Tran, City Planner, City of Omaha Bryan Zimmer, AIA, Past President Friends of Joslyn Castle Kristine Gerber, Conference Director, Eventive Marketing LLC Chris Larson, Conference Intern, UNO Student
- Conference Support
- Website
- The Peter Kiewit Foundation
- Metropolitan Community College
Michael Joyce, HDR
Keynote Speaker
Advertising
Nebraska Humanities Council Charles Evan Hughes Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Reader
Donors
Bank of the West
Nebraska Arts Council
Gifford Park LLC Frank Horejsi
Breakout Sessions
AIA Omaha
J. Development Company
Nebraska Concrete Masonry Omaha Main Streets J. Robert Perrin, AIA Julie Reilly Robert’s Electric Cynthia Tooker, AIA
Morning and Afternoon Break Sponsors
The University of Nebraska Medical Center and The Nebraska Medical Center
Sunday Workshops
Friends of Joslyn Castle through a grant they received from the Mutual of Omaha Foundation
Midtown Neighborhood Tour
Joslyn Castle and Bemis Park Neighborhoods through grants they received from the Omaha Community Foundation’s Neighborhood Grant Program provided by the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation
Friday Night Reception
B.G. Peterson Co. Dundee Bank Nebraska State Historical Society
Facility
University of Nebraska at Omaha and Metropolitan Community College
Printing
Metropolitan Community College
Keynote Address – Saturday 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Imagine families of all income levels living side-by-side as they did when their neighborhoods originally developed; old houses brought back to life with all their visible character; walk able tree lined streets; neighbors having spontaneous porch parties; children safely playing outdoors…the epitome of good design that improves the quality of life. Nationally known preservation consultant Bob Yapp addresses these realities while discussing a step-by-step process that can help make historic neighborhoods diverse, friendly, rewarding and safe places to live.
Session 1 – Saturday, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
A. Early Kitchens and Bathrooms. What should you consider when renovating your
kitchen or bath? Dr. Marilyn Castoo from Virginia Tech University’s School of Architecture and Design examines the development of kitchens and baths in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to help you use these functional spaces in ways that honor the past, but address your current needs.
B. Exterior Woodwork. John Leeke, American preservationist, discusses the steps to stabilize and save deteriorated exterior woodwork. He demonstrates how good design, proper materials selection and effective installation methods along with proper rehabilitation will reduce maintenance and extend the life of your exterior woodwork
C. Lessons Learned in Commercial Restoration Projects. Where do you begin
when rehabbing an older commercial property? Local architects Al Macchietto and Jerry Berggren along with architectural historian Melissa Dirr cover the ups and downs of older commercial rehabilitation with wit, humor and down right fun.
D. Nobody told me I Had to Have a Permit. Kevin Denker, chief city housing
inspector, and Jay Davis, chief city building inspector, describe how codes and ordinances affect older homes and commercial properties and outline the responsibilities owners, operators and occupants of existing structures have.
E. Buying and Selling Older Properties. Tim Reeder, a real estate broker and agent
specializing in older homes, shares his knowledge in what sells and what doesn’t in the older home market. As someone who has restored his own fixer upper, he also shares what it takes to rehab an older home and the benefits this can bring.
Session 2 – Saturday, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
A. Interior Woodwork. As an apprentice to a German furniture maker, Bob Yapp learned the “right way” to restore anything made of wood. He discusses innovative and cost effective techniques for wood restoration that do not use toxic chemicals.
B. Researching the History of your Property. Who lived in your house before you
bought it? Was that creaky old garage a stable? What was your neighborhood like 80 years ago? How old is your property? Architect Jennifer Honebrink, an experienced researcher of both commercial and residential properties, points you in the right direction to find answers to these questions and more using local resources.
C. Revitalizing Urban Neighborhood Commercial Districts. The Nebraska Main
Street program isn’t just for small towns. J.L. Schmidt and Liz Chase from Nebraska Main Streets show how Omaha’s neighborhood commercial districts can benefit from the training, historic preservation ethic, and place building principles that are a part of the Main Street Four Point ApproachTM.
D. What Style is my House? Architectural historian Melissa Dirr uses a multitude of Omaha residential properties to illustrate house styles and discusses basic stylistic forms that may be used to identify your own house style.
E. Lead Paint Removal. Is it dangerous to remove old paint? Will my family be safe? What should do I do about the peeling paint on my older property? Reid Steinkraus, supervisor for the Douglas County Health Department, lays out steps for safe work practices in both wet and dry removal of lead paint including how to clean-up and check your work.
Session 3 – 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
A. From the Ground Up. Is your dream of a rumpus room in the basement hampered by bulging walls and water on the floor? Bill Kirby with Thrasher Basement Systems walks attendees step-by-step in understanding how moisture and structural problems happen, how to identify these problems in their own property and what repair options are available.
B. Nebraska’s New Historic Tax Incentive. Can I get financial assistance for restoring my historic
property? The Nebraska Valuation Incentive Program is a property tax incentive that gives owners a temporary “hold” on property tax valuation increases when they substantially rehabilitate an historic property. Jill Dolberg of the Nebraska State Historical Society discusses eligibility and the types of work that qualify.
C. Cheap, Quick and Easy: Early Imitative Architectural Materials. Dr. Pamela Simpson, a
professor of art history at Washington and Lee University, explores examples of the ‘cheap, quick and easy’ building materials used in the 1870-1930 time period. Rock face concrete block imitated rusticated stone. Pressed metal looked like stone, wood or even brick on exterior siding. On interiors, the popular pressed metal ceilings looked like decorative plaster. Linoleum simulated ceramic tile, mosaic, marble, wood and carpet patterns. Pamela will show how the history and development of these new materials, reveals not only the intersection between technology and popular culture, it also reveals some of the most deeply held values of the period.
D. Perspectives on Period Lighting. Join Rejuvenation’s senior designer and historian, Bo Sullivan, for an overview of American residential lighting from 1880 to 1960. Bo discusses key terms and advances, the major historical style traditions that define this era and will show vintage and contemporary installations that demonstrate the beauty and design integrity possible with period-appropriate lighting.
E. Mold – Fact/Fiction/Realistic Solutions. Is mold on your walls a cosmetic problem, a health concern
or an indicator of underlying damage? Dr. Johnna Roberts will provide basic information about mold, mold clean-up and remediation. Learn when to call in a professional and what to look for in a mold assessment/remediation company.
Session 4 – Saturday, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
A - Lessons Learned in Restoring Older Homes. Want to restore your older home, but don’t know
where to start. Don Browers, Tim Reeder and Pat and Heather Dugan will share their lessons learned on rehabbing old homes. Join this experienced group in a round table discussion of their adventures.
B. Baby it’s Cold Outside. Are you afraid of that monster in your basement and those noisy radiators? Do
you dream of central air conditioning? Pat Ryan, experienced HVAC engineer, discusses issues relating to heating, ventilation and cooling systems in older buildings and the integration of original systems with newer technologies.
C. Discover Your Homes Original Colors. What colors should you paint your house? Architectural
historian Dena Sanford shows how to analyze the original paint colors of a building and how to choose a historically accurate paint scheme. She identifies resources and illustrates a step-by-step process to gather information and make your home’s inherent beauty shine through.
D. Metals 101. Is that iron or bronze? Should that metal be striped? Join metals conservator Deborah Long in an exploration of metal and their historic finishes. Learn how to identify and preserve metals in and around your older property.
Hands-on Workshops – Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 10 a.m. to Noon
A. Window Repair. Are you ready to save some windows? During this four hour workshop John Leeke will guide you in the practical methods of maintenance and repair of older and historic wood windows. Learn specific treatments for the most common window problems: broken glass and sash cords, rotten sash joints, weathered sills, bowed meeting rails, frame joint decay and more.
B. Mud Slinging - Flat and Decorative Plaster. Back by popular demand, learn how to repair plaster
walls. Dick Grace will show how to salvage loose and cracked plaster and explain to attendees how decorative plaster is made.
C. Woodturning Basics. Have you always wanted to learn how to create your own stair balustrades or spindles for your front porch? Join master carpenter Chuck Suiter as he shows you the steps for working a wood lathe.
D. Electrical Basics. Master electrician John Berger will teach you the basics of electrical safety for your home. Learn the do’s and don’ts of changing light switches, lights and receptacles.
Gifford Park Neighborhood
3511 Webster
Hollywood driveway. An unproven Sears house with many of the original built-ins.
3413 Webster
This home was part of the City of Omaha’s Reinvestment Area Program. The owner worked closely with the contractor for lead abatement and fought to keep her original windows.
621 N 36th Street
Reproduced missing crown molding to match historical trim.
Joslyn Castle Neighborhood
Joslyn Castle - 3902 Davenport
Restoration of Morning Room, Gold Room and the windows
518 N 40 St., Apartment restoration
Restored living and dining room. Rehabilitated kitchen and bathroom.
4110 Davenport
Restored woodwork, period interior paint scheme and preserved fireplace
st
365 N 41 Ave
Period exterior paint scheme, restored interior including period wallpaper and refinished wood floors
Bemis Park Neighborhood
th
1041 N 34 St
Home features a period paint scheme, original windows, second floor restroom and woodwork plus refinished oak floors and restored period kitchen cabinets.
th
1043 N 34 St
Exterior renovation and an addition approved by the Landmarks Commission
3401 Hawthorne Ave
Vinyl siding removal and restoration of wood siding plus a period paint scheme.
3704 Hawthorne St.
Example of a former multifamily dwelling turned back to a single family home. Contains period fixtures, entry, paneling and radiators. Refinished woodwork throughout and the original garage is featured.
Augustana Lutheran Church - 3647 Lafayette Ave
Exterior and interior preserved.
John Berger – Electrical Basics
John Berger has been in the electrical industry for 40 years. He has experience in both new and old construction in residential and commercial projects. John is a Master Electrician and has been an electrical contractor for the past 14 years. Currently he is an Electrical Technology Instructor at Metropolitan Community College.
Jerry Berggren, AIA, - Lessons Learned in Commercial Projects
Jerry Berggren, AIA, is the founder and Principal-in-Charge of Berggren Architects. He graduated in 1971 from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and spent a year and half working in Kansas City improving neighborhoods and business districts for the Urban Renewal Agency. In 1973, he returned to his native Nebraska and joined a Lincoln based architectural firm. In 1977 he began private practice under his own name. His love of history and historic architecture has focused the firm in historic preservation. Jerry has personally participated in over 90 restoration projects for more than 60 structures, 55 of these structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He has successfully completed projects in historic restoration, adaptive reuse, retro-fit, and in new construction.
Don Browers – Lessons Learned – Residential Projects
Don Browers has been writing a monthly column about old house renovation for more than 13 years called “The Old House Mechanic.” The column of do-it-yourself tips, restoration hints and perspectives on old house living appears in the Dundee Memorial Park Association newsletter and various times has appeared in other neighborhood newsletters. For about 18 years he and his wife, Marjorie, have been restoring a 1921 brick four-square house in Dundee. He started writing the column, because it is easier to write about old house renovation than to actually do it. His columns are written from the viewpoint of the average old house owner, because Don does not work in any home remodeling or repair business. To pay for his hobby of restoring his house, Don works as an account executive for KETV Channel 7.
Dr. Marilyn Castoo – Early Kitchens and Bathrooms
Dr. Marilyn Castoo is an Associate Professor of Interior Design in the School of Architecture + Design at Virginia Tech University where she teaches courses in design history. She is a past president of the Southeast Society of Architectural Historians and is currently the Book Review Editor for the Vernacular Architecture Forum. Her book, Historic Theaters of Kentucky, won the Southeast Society of Architectural Historians Annual Book Award in 2000. Dr. Casto’s current research projects include the history of the interior design profession and a study of the use of nature in nineteenth century interiors. The latter project was supported by a Winterthur Fellowship. Her most recent publication is an essay in Re-creating the American Past:
Essays on the Colonial Revival (2006).
Elizabeth Chase - Revitalizing Urban Neighborhood Commercial Districts
Elizabeth Chase has been with the Nebraska Lied Main Street Program since 1997. She holds degrees in Art History and Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where the focus of her studies included architectural history, historic preservation and preservation planning. As Deputy Director of the Nebraska Lied Main Street Program, she is responsible for assisting in the development and delivery of community-specific services in the areas of economic development, design, promotion, organization and historic preservation for new and existing Main Street program communities in Nebraska. She has worked with communities in Iowa, Wyoming and South Dakota.
Jay Davis - Nobody Told Me I had to Have a Permit
Jay Davis has been a City of Omaha building inspector for 10 years and has served as the Chief Building Inspector for seven of those years. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in the design of new commercial and residential structures and more than 34 years of experience in all phases of new and rehab construction.
Kevin Denker – Nobody Told Me I had to Have a Permit
For the past 14 years Kevin Denker has worked for the City of Omaha as a Rehabilitation Inspector/Project Manager for Housing & Community Development and for the past seven years as the person in charge of Code Enforcement. Prior to coming to the City, Denker spent eight years as a project architect at Bahr Vermeer & Haecker Architects. Keven Denker has a BS in Design Engineering from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.