News from Preservation Pennsylvania

Preservation Pennsylvania through creative partnerships, targeted educational and advocacy programs, advisory assistance, and special projects, assists Pennsylvania communities to protect and utilize the historic resources they want to preserve for the future.

Preservation Pennsylvania (PPA) is the Commonwealth's only statewide, private non-profit, membership organization dedicated to the protection of historically and architecturally significant properties.

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New Faces on the Road

     Preservation Pennsylvania's new initiative, Partners in the Field, is underway. A joint program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Partners in the Field is a matching grant program designed to put additional professional preservationists in the communities where they are most needed. Earlier this year, Preservation Pennsylvania was selected as one of 24 programs in the country to implement this initiative.

    After raising the necessary funds to get started, two part time Shared Field Service Representatives were hired in September 2008. They are now available to assist communities, historical organizations, and individuals with preservation issues.

    You may already know our two new employees, but we would like to take this opportunity to introduce them to you here.

     David Kimmerly comes to us most recently from the Heritage Conservancy in Bucks County where he has been involved in a wide range of preservation activities including National Register nominations, historic resource surveys, historic preservation ordinances, preservation compliance and architectural histories. Before joining the Heritage Conservancy, Dave worked for the Montgomery County Planning Commission where he wrote historic preservation ordinances and developed the cultural resources aspects of the County's comprehensive plan. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Geography, a Master's Degree in Historical Geography and a Certificate in Historic Preservation.   Dave is based in Lansdale, Montgomery County.

    Erin Hammerstedt most recently worked as a private consultant with Paragon Cultural Preservation Group. Prior to that, she was with Archaeological and Historical Consultants. Her experience includes work on historic resource surveys, National Register nominations, preservation compliance, condition assessments and preparation of preservation treatment plans as well as experience as a HARB consultant. Her education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Integrative Arts and a Master's Degree in Historic Preservation. She is based in Bellefonte, Centre County.

     We are so pleased to have these highly qualified professional join the staff of Preservation Pennsylvania. If you need their services, which are FREE OF CHARGE, please feel free to contact them directly or through the Preservation Pennsylvania office.
Contact Us:
Preservation Pennsylvania
717-234-2310 info@preservationpa.org

2008 Historic Preservation Awards
Partners for Sacred Places receives highest honor

       For the past thirty years, the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards have honored individuals and organizations that exhibited excellence in the field of historic preservation.

    Presented by Preservation Pennsylvania in partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the annual awards program highlights the richness and diversity of Pennsylvania's heritage and recognizes the valuable contribution historic preservation projects make to community vitality.

    The F. Otto Haas Award, given in memory of noted preservationist and philanthropist F. Otto Haas, recognizes outstanding achievement in preserving and protecting Pennsylvania's cultural heritage.

   The 2008 F. Otto Haas Award was presented to Partners for Sacred Places. Partners for Sacred Places is headquartered in Philadelphia and serves as the only national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization that works to support and preserve the architectural assets of religious congregations, while also encouraging and enhancing their efforts to serve and strengthen their communities.

    Partners for Sacred Places is changing the way we associate with religious properties. In addition to houses of worship, sacred places serve as soup kitchens, youth centers, community meeting places, activity and learning centers.

For their exceptional efforts to preserve the places that bring communities together, Partners for Sacred Places was honored with the 2008 F. Otto Haas Award. Board Member Gordon W. Woodrow, Associate Director Tuomi Forrest and Executive Director Robert Jaeger accepted the award (pictured above right to left).
        To learn more about their programs and initiatives, visit Partners for Sacred Places online.

Update: House Bill 221

Efforts Renewed to Pass Historic Preservation Incentive Legislation in 2009

         As the current legislative session draws to a close, we are disappointed to report that we were not able to obtain final passage of HB 221. However, during the past few months, we were successful in expanding our support for the historic preservation incentive program.

    This year we enlarged our coalition to 27 statewide, regional and local non-profit and advocacy organizations from broad areas of interest including historic preservation, heritage areas, housing, smart growth and the environment. Another major success was the amendment of the bill language to expand the program into a combination tax credit program for income producing properties and a grant program for private homeowners.

   As soon as the new legislative session begins, the coalition will get back to work and have a new bill introduced. We have gained so much momentum in 2008 and we want to keep things moving in a positive direction.