Michigan Statewide Historic Preservation Plan
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2020–2025 MICHIGAN Statewide Historic Preservation Plan Working together, we can use the next five years to redefine the role of historic preservation in the state to ensure it remains relevant to Michigan’s future. State Historic Preservation Office Prepared by 300 North Washington Square Amy L. Arnold, Preservation Planner, Lansing, Michigan 48913 Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Martha MacFarlane-Faes, Lansing, Michigan Deputy State Historic August 2020 Preservation Officer Mark Burton, CEO, With assistance from Michigan Economic Peter Dams, Dams & Associates, Development Corporation Plainwell, Michigan Gretchen Whitmer, Governor, This report has been financed entirely State of Michigan with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior. This program receives federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity National Park Service 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington D.C. 20240 Cover photo: Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse, Alpena County. Photo: Bryan Lijewski Michigan State Historic Preservation Office 2 Preservation Plan 2020–2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Vision for Michigan ......................................................................................................................... 7 Michigan’s Statewide Historic Preservation Plan Goals Summary 2020–2025 .................. 9 Working Together: Stories of Success 2014–2019 .................................................................. 11 A Look to the Future: Challenges and Opportunities ............................................................ 22 Goals and Objectives 2020–2025 ............................................................................................... 27 Goal 1: Targeted Preservation Education ............................................................................ 28 Goal 2: Expand Preservation Funding Opportunities ...................................................... 29 Goal 3: Increase Diversity in Historic Preservation .......................................................... 31 Goal 4: Build Stronger Partnerships ..................................................................................... 32 Goal 5: Maximize Communication ...................................................................................... 34 Michigan’s Historic Resources 2014–2019 ............................................................................... 36 Michigan’s Most Threatened Resources .................................................................................... 53 Appendix A: Diversity in Michigan Overview ......................................................................... 57 References ........................................................................................................................................ 66 Michigan State Historic Preservation Office 3 Preservation Plan 2020–2025 INTRODUCTION he start of a community should acknowledge this PLANNING PROCESS new decade in success. The hard work of those that In 2019, Michigan’s State Historic helped establish this new field since its Preservation Office held five regional 2020 signaled the beginnings in 1966, and those that battled public planning workshops around the beginning of a misinformation supported new programs, state in Bay City, Detroit, Grand Rapids, was invaluable. But in Michigan, the Traverse City, and Escanaba, and a new era for historic preservation field is at a new stage and meeting of stakeholders, preservation no longer needs to be on the defensive. preservation in Michigan. professionals identified by the SHPO, in T Preservation now has a proven track East Lansing. Overall, there were a total What will the new era record—and it is a good one. As a of 170 participants: 125 members of the component of local planning it has been look like? public and 45 stakeholders. The SHPO effective in increasing property values, typically supplements its public planning returning unused buildings to the tax rolls, workshops with an on-line survey but was A series of public planning workshops providing sustainable solutions for new unable to do so during this planning cycle was held in spring 2019, and when asked development, and creating places where due to an unexpected Governor’s Executive to prioritize the state’s preservation goals both young and old want to be. Order in July 2019 that moved the SHPO for the next five years, participants chose to a new department within the state. Staff education as the top priority. A recurring time was rededicated to preparing for a reason for targeting education was to help physical move of the SHPO office and we people understand the emotional value It is time to were unable to conduct the planned online of preservation to increase investment survey within the necessary time frame. in the reuse and protection of historic roll up our sleeves resources. To that end, planning workshop The planning workshops provided the participants supported education with and take hold of this public with the opportunity to discuss a twist. Rather than just promoting their vision for preservation in Michigan, guidelines and the rules and regulations opportunity to recreate the threats and opportunities affecting associated with preservation programs, historic preservation historic preservation, and the goals they thought there should be a renewed and objectives for the state’s historic concentration on connecting people and in Michigan for preservation community over the next places by telling Michigan’s story to gain five years. Each workshop began with an more empathy for historic sites. Another the 21st century. overview by the state historic preservation issue of high importance to workshop officer regarding the role of the State participants was reaching out to a broader Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and audience. Michigan’s historic preservation its programs. An overview of the five-year community should work to become more planning process was also provided. The inclusive of diverse populations. It should It is time to roll up our sleeves and take goals and objectives from the last five-year do more to reach out to the regions of hold of this opportunity to recreate historic plan were made available to participants the state that have been underserved in preservation in Michigan for the 21st in a handout. A professional facilitator the past. Increasing the use of technology century. Working together, we can use conducted the workshops and summarized as a means of sharing information about the next five years to redefine the role of the agenda for the evening, the operational historic resources and the establishment historic preservation in the state to ensure mechanics of each section, and defined of new partnerships to help bring historic it remains relevant to Michigan’s future the expectations for the discussions of preservation into the mainstream of by incorporating issues of sustainability, proposed goals, objectives and threats. decision-making throughout the state diversity and technology. This plan should Participants were broken into small were also singled out as important areas of serve as the framework for moving historic groups. Each group identified preservation concentration. preservation forward. It is meant to be goals and objectives and prioritized their flexible enough to be used at all levels of top three goals. They then reported out Over the past decade, there was a growing planning by a wide range of organizations to the full group about their discussion acceptance of the importance of historic and agencies responsible for the economic and decisions. The top three goals from preservation in the creation of vibrant, development, history and the aesthetics each group were then voted on by the full popular communities where people want of Michigan’s communities and the participant group to obtain a final, agreed to live and work. Michigan’s preservation stewardship of the state’s history. upon list of prioritized goals. Threatened Michigan State Historic Preservation Office 4 Preservation Plan 2020–2025 INTRODUCTION PRESERVATION STAKEHOLDERS Architects Certified local government representatives Conference on Michigan Archaeology Eastern Michigan University Historic Preservation Program Historic district commissioners Historic preservation consultants Local city officials and planners Michigan Association of Planners Michigan Archaeological Society Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan Department of Transportation Michigan Docomomo Chapter Public planning workshop, Detroit, May 2020 Michigan Historic Preservation Network Michigan History Center resources were identified during a preliminary reports from all five planning Michigan Historical Commission discussion