Preservation News
            August 2014            
 
        
                                         
A Message from the Director
Shanon Shea Miller, AICP
Historic Preservation Officer
  

  

The sixth annual Historic Homeowner Fair is fast approaching! This year's fair will once again take place at the Full Goods Building at Pearl on Saturday, September 27. This is our largest event of the year, and it is a fantastic opportunity for historic property owners to connect with preservation professionals. The fair hosts a wide range of vendors and exhibitors, as well as an exciting line-up of demonstrations and presentations on preservation topics such as wood window repair, house history research, and more! We still have space available for vendors and exhibitors, as well as volunteer opportunities, so be sure to get involved! Contact Nicholas Fuqua at 210.207.0066 or [email protected] for vendor, volunteer and sponsorship information. Click here  for more details.    

 

The Power of Preservation Foundation (PoP) is pleased to announce our second annual Cool Crest Mini-Golf Tournament on Wednesday, August 13, at 6:30pm (1402 Fredericksburg Road). We're excited to have Los #3 Dinners providing musical entertainment at the event again this year. Come out and enjoy food, drinks, music, prizes and a fun mini-golf challenge! Proceeds of this event will go to support the restoration of the unique Cool Crest sign! The PoP will also be hosing the Preservation PROMenade gala fundraiser (aka PROM) at the Women's Pavilion in Hemisfair Park on October 23.  In our first two years, the event has raised more than $75,000 for hands-on preservation in San Antonio. This year's theme will be "Peace, Love and Preservation." Click here for more details. We hope to see you at Cool Crest!

 

Lastly, the OHP would like to invite you to a special Eastside Cemetery guided tour scheduled for October 4th  in support of the 2014 United Way Charitable Campaign. Stay tuned for details through our website and Facebook page!

 

 

Shanon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Westside Landmarks Update

This summer, San Antonio City Council members voted to designate 23 more Westside properties as historic landmarks. This will ensure that the rich social and cultural fabric of one San Antonio's oldest communities will continue to thrive.

The Office of Historic Preservation initiated the Westside Cultural Resource Survey in 2011 to identify, document, and protect architecturally, historically, and culturally significant properties on San Antonio's Westside. This was an important step in light of the loss of irreplaceable Westside structures like La Gloria, the open air gas station and dance hall that was demolished in 2002. This incident galvanized the neighborhood and sparked a movement to preserve the rich architecture, history, and culture of the Westside.

The Office of Historic Preservation collaborated with The Westside Preservation Alliance, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio Conservation Society, Westside Development Corporation, Old Spanish Trail Centennial, and many other volunteers to initiate this important survey. Over 100 properties have been surveyed and photo-documented through these efforts. To date over 44 properties have been designated, and efforts are currently underway protect more cultural resources,  including over 25 potential buildings and numerous murals.

For more information on the Westside Cultural Resource Survey, contact City of San Antonio Cultural Historian Claudia Guerra at 210.207.0241 or [email protected].

 

 "Did You Know..?"

 

HDRC Application Tips: Photographs

A picture really is worth a thousand words. When submitting an HDRC application, submitting quality, explanatory photographs is necessary in order to for OHP staff to fully understand the nature of the request. Remember, an application is considered incomplete when sufficient information to review the request has not been submitted. Providing high-quality photographs to staff helps to prevent delays due to an incomplete application.
  

Please keep the following pointers in mind when taking photos for your next HDRC application:

1. Quality. Photos should be full color and of clear resolution.

2. Frame your shot. Avoid confusing "zoomed-in" shots.

3. Context. Show us the setting your building is located within.

4. Tell a story. Your photographs should be explanatory. Staff should be able to get a clear picture of the current conditions of the building and understand the intent of the proposal.

The best way to submit photos for an HDRC application is on a disk. This allows staff to make high-quality digital copies of your photos for review and reproduction.

 Happy photographing!

 

 Landscaping in a Historic District 

 

 

Thanks to our great weather recently, the City's Office of Historic Preservation has been receiving an abundance of applications and issuing many administrative approvals for residents who wish to upgrade their landscapes. There are many contributing factors when changing or modifying a landscape within various historic districts. This may include various City specific design guidelines, tree preservation ordinances, exemptions, and of course, the Unified Development Code. Information with regards to landscape modifications and administrative approvals can be found through the OHP website  and the San Antonio Unified Development Code . In addition, you can contact the Development Services Department, Mark C. Bird; City Arborist at (210) 207-8053, or Justin Krobot; Assistant City Arborist (210) 207-6042. Additional assistance can also be obtained by contacting our office directly at (210) 215-9274.

   Archaeology News

 
 

Voelcker Farm Nominated to the National Register 

 

The Max and Minnie Voelcker Dairy Farm, located in San Antonio's Phil Hardberger Park, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places this past spring. The farmstead exemplifies a turn-of-the-century agricultural landscape with preserved late nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings. The State Board of Review met on May 17, 2014, in Austin to review the application.  The Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) received a matching $10,000 Certified Local Government Grant to hire a consultant to prepare the nomination. The nomination assessment was prepared by Brandy Harris, M. Kelley Russell, Lila Knight, Ryan Fennell, Nesta Anderson, and Karissa Basse. The $10,000 grant was matched in-kind by the OHP through the execution of a survey in the West Sector Plan area of the city.  OHP staff members involved in the survey included Adriana Ziga, Kay Hindes, and OHP volunteer Brenda Laureano.  The nomination will now move forward to the National Park Service.

 

 

 

In This Issue
Preservation Articles, Events, and Announcements

Save the Date for the 6th Annual Historic Homewoner Fair! 

 

2014 HDRC Meeting Schedule 

 

 

The Federal Historic Tax Credits: Transforming Communities

 
  
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Preservation Action keeps you up to date on important preservation legislation.  Click here for the latest preservation news from Washington.
  
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