Heritage Home Program Update

The Heritage Home Program(SM) construction season is in full swing for 2015! Homeowners are continuing last year's increased momentum and choosing to complete home improvements and updates. Already, over half of this season's Heritage rehab loans are based on the "after-rehab" value of the house providing for a $1.3M investment in residential housing! The increase in after-rehab loan volume means more staff time in the field for project oversight and homeowner assistance, and more payment processing to contractors. To help cover this time, the Heritage Home Program(SM) escrow fee has been increased from $200 to $350 per loan. This increase took effect August 1 for new applications that have not been pre-approved by the lending institution. To learn more about the Heritage Home Program(SM), call the Heritage staff at 216-426-3116 or visit www.heritagehomeprogram.org.

Round 15 Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Deadlines

Starting with Round 15, the OHPTC program is moving to a two tiered deadline system: SHPO Part 1 and Part 2 applications that certify the historic significance of the building(s) and outline the scope of work intended are due in the State Historic Preservation Office by August 31. The OHPTC application that includes the financial information, ownership information, and other data used for the competitive scoring process is due in the Ohio Development Service Agency office by September 30. The last day to request a pre-application meeting with a SHPO reviewer is August 17. Click here for more information.

Historic Building for Sale

Cleveland's Masonic Temple, at 3615 Euclid Avenue, is being offered for purchase by PLB & Associates LLC. The building is perfect for a redevelopment project. It has five levels, including a 2,200 seat auditorium, and several large conference and banquet rooms with high ceilings and elevator access on all floors. Designed by architects Hubbell and Benes and built 1919 - 1921, the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For more information contact Pamela L. Bertovich of PLB & Associates LLC by email or calling 216-378-1599. (Photo by Christopher Busta-Peck.) 

Cleveland Landmark Back on Market

Oberlin Heritage Center Announces  

New Executive Director

The Oberlin Heritage Center is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Schultz has been selected as the organization's next executive director. Schultz was formerly OHC's Museum Education and Tour Coordinator. In that position, she expanded the tour offerings to include themed history walks, self-guided tablet tours, and interactive team-building activities. She developed outreach programs for area schools, created history kits for teachers to borrow to enhance classroom learning, increased OHC's kids' camp programs to new levels of distinction, and spearheaded the Heritage Center's advancements in the digital world by serving as website manager and social media coordinator. The community is invited to a casual farewell gathering for former director Patricia Murphy and a welcome to Schultz on Saturday, August 8 from 3-4:30 p.m. on the Oberlin Heritage Center grounds.

Call for Abstracts for Michigan's State Conference

Thank You and Best Wishes  

It is with our great thanks, appreciation, and admiration for a job well done, that the Cleveland Restoration Society says goodbye to Felicia Hall. Felicia has been a mainstay of the Cleveland Restoration Society for thirteen years. She came to CRS after employment in the architecture field and with a private airline company. Through her excellent skills, steadfast dedication, hard work, and engaging personality, she advanced through the organization to become Director of Administration. She has been critical to CRS's growth and development during this important period. Felicia has been part of so much at CRS over the years that it is impossible to describe it all. She was part of the growth of the Heritage Home Program, the expansion of our computer capacities and website, the completion of the Sarah Benedict House project and its rental growth, the completion of our employee policies and our internal communication practices, and of course, the development and implementation of our many events. During her employment at CRS, Felicia also completed her college degree and a Masters Degree in Management, all while caring for a busy family. Felicia has always said that CRS is "in her blood", so we expect to see her at CRS events in the future. Please join us in thanking Felicia and wishing her well!

News from the Sarah Benedict House

CRS Welcomes New Staff Members!

Jobadiah Christiansen has joined CRS as a Membership & Technology Assistant. Jobadiah earned his B.A. in 2013 at Calvin College in History, with minors in Archaeology and Music. He went on to complete his M.A. in 2015 in History at Kent State University, where he studied the local history and memory of his hometown of Greenville, Pennsylvania. His thesis focused on the development and change in identity of the Greenville community in relationship to the community's memory from the pioneer settlers through the present day. In addition to local history, Jobadiah has a passion for preservation and archaeology which was cultivated during several seasons of fieldwork at the Roman-Byzantine site of Umm el-Jimal in Jordan.

Dean Pavlik is our new Preservation and Construction Specialist. He brings forty years of hands-on construction experience to our Heritage Home Program. For the last fifteen years, Dean has worked mainly on historic residential rehab projects in the Shaker Heights area. He has worked on projects throughout all phases of remodeling and uses his practical experience to consult with homeowners who are participating in the program to answer questions on everything from basic home maintenance to more detailed improvement project planning.

Where's Benedict?