Preservation Award Winners

Last Thursday, the Cleveland Restoration Society and AIA Cleveland recognized eleven projects at the Celebration of Preservation award program. Awards are given yearly to organizations, companies, and individuals whose contributions demonstrate excellence and outstanding commitment to our communities through historic preservation. Our 2013 award winners are:

Gates Mills Garden Club "Esquire's Cottage"

Lorain County History Center

7418 Franklin Boulevard 

Franklin Circle Christian Church

Park National Theatre (shown here) 

Apollo Theater

Doan Classroom Apartments

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Sharon Center Town Hall

The Union Building

Cleveland Public Auditorium

Winners were selected by a jury of AIA and CRS representatives. The selection criteria included the overall quality of work, adherence to preservation standards, the risk taken by project partners, the use of innovative project tools, and impact on the greater community. The Celebration of Preservation event is a joyful, colorful gathering that shows what a difference preservation is making in Northeast Ohio. Pictures from the event can be viewed here.  

Thank you to our event sponsors,

The Sherwin-Williams Company   

First Federal of Lakewood, and  

PlayhouseSquare 

CRS Receives  

"Spirit of Preservation" Award

The Cleveland Restoration Society is a proud recipient of one of Heritage Ohio's 2013 preservation awards. These awards honor the people, places and projects that exemplify Heritage Ohio's commitment to growth through preservation and revitalization. CRS received the "Spirit of Preservation" award on May 23 at Heritage Ohio's annual awards ceremony, held in conjunction with the organization's statewide conference, in Columbus.  In recognizing CRS, Heritage Ohio noted that "Four decades after its beginnings, CRS is the respected voice for heritage conservation in Northeast Ohio, heard through its publications, events, public testimony, and assistance programs. A hallmark of CRS is that it has pioneered programs to assist the owners of historic houses, commercial and religious buildings. CRS believes that by giving assistance it is furthering the preservation of these buildings and promoting the intersection of historic preservation and economic development." Thank you, Heritage Ohio!

Franklin-West Clinton District Survey Completed

The Cleveland Restoration Society recently completed a photographic survey of the Franklin-West Clinton Historic District in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood of Cleveland. While this district has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places for a number of years, it only became a local district and started local design review in 2011. This survey not only includes a photograph of every building in the district (taken in 2012), it also includes a historic photograph, if available. Michael Fleenor, CRS's director of preservation services, looked for historic photographs from both the Cleveland Public Library collection and the tax reappraisal cards (with photos taken 1955-1961) from the Cuyahoga County Archives. Only a dozen or so structures did not have a historic photograph available. We hope this survey is helpful to the local design review committee and the Cleveland Landmarks Commission in administering the design review process and facilitating good rehabs in the district.

Grant funds to repair damage to historic properties caused by Hurricane Sandy may be available to historic building owners in Cuyahoga and Ashtabula Counties

The Ohio Historic Preservation Office is one of nine state historic preservation offices eligible to apply for funding to address damage/issues directly related to the impacts of Hurricane Sandy on National Register listed or eligible for listing historic resources. No state is expected to receive more than $1.5 million for re-granting. All state applicants will be informed of their grant award amounts no later than August 31, 2013. Soon thereafter information on how property owners may apply for funding to address damage to historic properties will be made available. The focus of this funding is on development work, but additional eligible uses of this funding include developing architectural/engineering plans and specifications, economic feasibility studies, survey and damage assessments, and recordation of hurricane-damaged properties. The Ohio Historic Preservation Office needs your help to identify Hurricane Sandy's impacts to historic resources in northeast Ohio. If you know of specific damage/impacts to historic resources in Cuyahoga or Ashtabula counties please provide that information directly to the OHPO at ohpo@ohiohistory.org. It would be helpful to know the name of the property, its address, the name of the property owner or other contact, and an email address or phone number. The OHPO will contact property owners to determine the nature of the damage to the historic property, the proposed solution to said damage, and the approximate cost for the solution or repair. Please provide information to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office at ohpo@ohiohistory.org by June 14.

Apply for a National Trust Conference Diversity Scholarship  

by July 1

There is still time to apply for a diversity scholarship to attend the 2013 National Preservation Conference in Indianapolis October 29 - November 2. The "Preservation at the Crossroads" conference theme will emphasize critical decision points for preservation in the twenty-first century, in addition to highlighting Indiana's rich architectural and cultural assets at the "crossroads of America." Educational content will focus heavily on ways to build new audiences in preservation, paying for preservation and advocacy through policy. The National Trust's Diversity Scholarship Program seeks culturally diverse applicants whose attendance at the conference will benefit their communities and whose commitment to historic preservation will be reinforced by their participation. Recipients will have an opportunity to express their perspectives during the conference and to take advantage of National Trust programs after the conference. Awardees will receive financial assistance in the form of complimentary registration and lodging to attend the conference, as well as preservation news and training resources throughout the year. Click here for the application. The application deadline is July 1.

CRS Assists Perry Township with the Parmly Mansion

Michael Fleenor, CRS's director of preservation services, recently completed an assessment of 2814 Perry Park Road in Perry Township in Lake County, to help the township trustees develop reuse ideas and to suggest potential developers. The lakeside home, built by Jahial Parmly, had been purchased by the township, and the surrounding land used for a public park and community center. Parmly had served as an itinerant dentist in Charleston, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia and returned to Lake County after his marriage in 1826. The structure's stepped gable is like those found in parts of the South during the period, and may have been designed to please Parmly's southern-born wife. In the twentieth century, the home served as Camp Roosevelt and served a mainly Jewish population from Cleveland. CRS hopes the township trustees find a good partner and use for this intriguing building.

Shaker Historical Society to  

Host Kids' Camp

Explore the wonders of the honeybee at the Shaker Historical Society at an adventure camp for children in grades 2-4 June 17 - 21. The camp will be held at the Shaker Historical Society, 16740 South Park Blvd. in Shaker Heights, from 10:00 a.m. - Noon, followed by an optional Lunch Bunch from 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. "Bee the Buzz" will be an interactive activity camp featuring the life and behaviors of the amazing and vital honeybee. Participants will learn about the honeybee through hands-on lessons, games, crafts, exploration of a working beehive, and investigation of antique and modern beekeeping artifacts. The fee is $60 for the full session or $15 per day. Class size is limited. Call 216-921-1201 or email wpetznick@shakerhistory.org to register.

Rent the Sarah Benedict House for Your Event 

Are you looking for a unique venue for your next special event or business meeting?  Consider the historic Sarah Benedict House, located in the heart of the MidTown neighborhood at 3751 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland.  Built in 1883, the house is fully restored and rehabilitated and offers four accessible rooms on its first floor, two restrooms, a catering kitchen, and a beautiful garden. There is ample, free parking. Contact Felicia Hall for more information.