Save the Date for the 2012 Celebration of Preservation when our architectural heritage takes center stage!  

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 16 and join us at the 2012 Celebration of Preservation. This year the event will be held at the newly renovated (and 2012 award nominee) Allen Theatre! Our jury has been meeting to determine the award winners and we know you will be pleased with the results. Tickets will be on sale soon. Advertising space is available in our event program. Contact us for details. If you would like a sneak peak at the winners, become a friend of CRS on Facebook. We will give you clues to the award-winning projects in the weeks leading up to the celebration!  Photo by Kevin G. Reeves - Photographer. 

Heritage Program Now Available in 

Cleveland Wards 13 and 19 

CRS is pleased to welcome Ward 13, supported by Councilman Kevin Kelley (left), and Ward 19, supported by Councilman Martin Keane (right), to the Heritage Home Program(SM).  Owners of homes more than fifty years old in these wards are eligible for free assistance from CRS's expert technical staff, and may be qualified for a home rehabilitation loan at a 1.4% rate!  Email the program staff or call 216-426-1000 to learn more.

May Company Building Advocacy Update

How many cars will fit into the May Company Building? None, for now. The Cleveland Planning Commission reviewed and denied plans proposing to redevelop floors two through five of the May Company Building for 734 parking spaces at its meeting on Friday, February 17, 2012. Plans were presented by architect Robert Zarzycki, representative for the owner, an affiliate of Morgan Reed Group of Miami, Florida. Commission member Anthony Coyne noted that the plans were "underperforming" by only addressing the floors dedicated to parking. The ground floor would remain retail and the upper floors could be residential or office space. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and future use of federal and state historic tax credits may also be compromised by the plan to remove the etched panes of the Chicago-style windows for ventilation and the proposed replacement of Prospect Avenue storefronts for vehicle single lane entrance and exits. Concern was also expressed for the overall traffic patterns along Prospect Avenue. The new casino valet garage is located directly across the street.

Stanley Block Status 

The 1874 Stanley Block Building's fate is once again being discussed. The owners, Macron Investment Company, have had until March 9, 2012 to stabilize and secure the building. However, the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals recently revoked this earlier decision after photographic evidence presented a deteriorating case for the building. The board referred the case back to Cleveland's Building and Housing Department, which condemned the building in April 2010. The city can now move forward with demolition if it wants. The Stanley Block is not locally landmarked. The Stanley Block is not just another case of deferred maintenance; it is also the center of a property control dispute. In an effort to purchase neighboring land and property to make way for the casino garage, developer Rock Ohio Caesars LLC purchased shares of Macron Investment Co. The remaining shares belong to members of the Maloof family, who say they want to restore the building. Litigation is over who actually controls the property. Click here to view some of the photographs presented to the board.

Senators Come Together to Support Preservation  

On February 6, 2012 Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) announced that together they would introduce the Creating American Prosperity through Preservation (CAPP) Act, to strengthen the federal historic tax credit. This new Senate legislation would encourage historic rehabilitation in Main Street communities, promote energy-efficiency in rehabilitation projects, and make the credit more accessible to nonprofit organizations. The legislation was introduced in the House last summer, and achieving Senate introduction was the next milestone. Now it's time to get educate legislators about the power of the federal historic tax credit and the importance of the CAPP legislation - and you can help! Despite its track record of job creation and community revitalization, the impact of the federal historic tax credit is not widely understood. To support the National Trust for Historic Preservation's effort to protect and enhance the historic tax credit, sign the pledge here.

Preservation Brief on "Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings" Updated 

The National Park Service has recently revised its Preservation Brief #3, "Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings." First written and distributed in April 1978, the updated brief has the most up-to-date information on best practices in sustainability. See the brief here.

Round 8 Applications Open

The application period for Round 8 of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is now open. A total of $29.6 million in tax credit allocation is currently available for Round 8 applicants. Applicants are required to notify both the Office of Redevelopment and Ohio Historic Preservation Office prior to submitting an application and are strongly encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting with both offices. Please contact the Office of Redevelopment at historic@development.ohio.gov or 614-995-2292 and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office at 614-298-2000 to schedule meetings. Note that applications must be submitted (not postmarked) to the Office of Redevelopment by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 30, 2012.

Heritage Ohio Preservation Award Nominations Due March 30

Heritage Ohio is currently accepting nominations for its preservation awards, which recognize the many exciting people and projects in Ohio that are making our communities more vibrant places to live. There are 15 award categories to award preservation and community revitalization projects in Ohio. Award winners will be recognized on Thursday, May 10 at Heritage Ohio's Annual Conference, to be held in Toledo. Nominations can be submitted either electronically or via mail. The deadline for submissions is March 30.

Cleveland Heights' Bungalows in the Spotlight

The historic residential architecture, lively and diverse cultural scene, and dense formal and informal social networks of Cleveland Heights are the focus of a feature article, "Progressive Architecture, Friendly Relations: Making It Work in Cleveland," in the spring issue of American Bungalow. Written by Bowling Green State University historian Douglas J. Forsyth, the article is the second in a series on the "Rust Belt Revival." Earlier articles in the series have focused on historic neighborhoods in Toledo and Detroit. Stop by Appletree Books, 12419 Cedar Road, in Cleveland Heights' Cedar Fairmount commercial district or Mac's Backs, 1820 Coventry Road, to pick up your copy. Learn more about Cleveland Heights' bungalows here.

CRS to Hold Summer Benefit

The Cleveland Restoration Society's 2012 benefit will be held on Saturday, July 28 at the newly restored Calfee Building, the former East Ohio Gas Company Building, at 1405 East Sixth Street in downtown Cleveland. Save the date now!

Office Space Available in MidTown

The historic Sarah Benedict House has a suite available for rent. Share the third floor with prestigious Cleveland nonprofits looking for a roommate. The house is well-located in an established neighborhood with easy access to highways and downtown and ample, free parking. In addition to the fully improved office space, there are meeting rooms on the first floor of the house available for use for free. The garden, open seasonally, can also be reserved for events, and is a wonderful spot for a restful lunch break.  A kitchen is provided for individual use or catering. To arrange a tour and find out more contact Felicia Hall.