Category: Historic Preservation

Activities and announcements occurring in the historic preservation community

2010 35th Annual CPF Conference

California Preservation Foundation is having their Annual Conference Preserving a Sense of Place in the Sierra Nevada this May. Garavaglia Architecture’s Principal, Mike Garavaglia will be speaking at the “Resource Stewardship for Non-Profit Organizations” workshop on preservation and stewardship of historic resources and necessary support. Our Preservation Services Manager, Becky Urbano, will be speaking at the “Working with Historic Material – A Case Study” workshop on practical hands-on techniques.

The tracks for this year’s conference include:

  • Sustainability
    Past is Prologue    : Preservation as a Sustainability Solution
  • Local Government
    Bringing It all Back Home    : Finding Preservation’s Place in Local Politics
  • Heritage Tourism
    Eureka!    : Discovering California Through Heritage Tourism
  • Economic Development
    “Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Hills:”     Melding Economic Development and Preservation
  • Local Character
    Mining the Past:     Local Character as Your Mother Lode

As in the past, the conference will also feature study tours, workshops, meetings and events. Awards presentations from the new Annual Youth Film Contest will also be presented during the Plenary Session. The Keynote address will feature Doug McConnell from Bay Area Backroads and Open Road with Doug McConnell.

Resource Stewardship for Non-Profit Organizations: Preparation, Planning and Partnering
May 12, 9:00a – 5:00p

Working with Historic Materials – A Case Study: A Primer for Building Owners, Stewards and Craftsman workshop at the same time
May 12, 9:00a – 5:00p

Preserving a Sense of Place The Sierra Nevada
2010 35th Annual California Preservation Conference
Grass Valley/Nevada City
May 12-15, 2010

For registration, visit the California Preservation Foundation registration page
http://californiapreservation.org/register_conference.shtml#navtop. Early bird rates end April 9th.

Recap on Partnership to Rehab Historic Buildings Workshop

On March 10, speakers and attendees from Northern California gathered together in Ione, CA for the “Make History – Public-Private Partnerships Rehabilitate Historic Properties” Workshop, presented by California Preservation Foundation.

On March 10, speakers and attendees from Northern California gathered together in Ione, CA for the “Make History – Public-Private Partnerships Rehabilitate Historic Properties” Workshop, presented by California Preservation Foundation.

Speakers included a variety of experts and presented different partnership and case studies. Presenters were Chris Fedukowski, finance expert and Principal of CFC; Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.’s Principal, Michael Garavaglia, a Preservation Architect; Said C. Kordestani, Partner in Farella Braun + Martel Tax Group; and local Bank of Amador President, Wayne Garibaldi. Local city representatives from Jackson and Ione also presented their challenges and successes on this topic. Ione’s own Preston Castle Foundation spoke on their on-going project.

Some tools and processes mentioned in this workshop included:

  • Facade programs
  • National Historic Trust Main Street Program
  • Community Development Block Grant Funds
  • Zoning Codes & Historic Districts
  • Heritage Tourism
  • Design  & Financing Process for Historic Preservation Tax Credits
  • Secretary of Interior Standards, and defining Rehabilitation
  • Historic Context and Significance
  • Historic Structure Reports

A good portion of the workshop concentrated on the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, a program administered by the US Department of Interior and the US Department of Treasury. Speakers went over the team members required, critical time periods, and the deal structures necessary for the at-times complex procedure.

Great case studies were presented by David Wilkinson, from Mercy Housing California, a non-profit housing developer; Darlene Mathis from the McCloud River Mercantile Co. & the Mercantile Hotel, and Andrea from Clark’s Corner in Ione. The three perspectives were all different: a professional developer with a social cause, a newly relocated family looking to create a new small town gem, and a highly active community member creating a gathering place for the people of the town, repsectively. However, all of them spurred further development in their areas and encouraging locals to stay in town for services.

For more information on resources for the historic preservation process or funding, please contact us and also visit our resources page.

Preston Castle gets a visit from director of Merle Haggard documentary

According to Wednesday’s Ledger-Dispatch, the director Gandulf Hennig visited Preston Castle for a film on Merle Haggard. The now famous musician was at Preston School of Industry and even attempted an escape in 1953, when he was 16.

The article states, ‘Hennig’s film crew spent several hours in Ione. Preston Castle Foundation President Marie Nutting took them on a tour of the landmark correctional facility that had once labeled Haggard “incorrigible.”‘

Further, according to the Ledger Dispatch,  the Castle has been featured in a variety of different shoots including a Travel Channel episode of “Ghost Adventures,” (Link to their video here) UOP student film director Caroline Taylor’s “Engagement to Murder” and scenes from co-producers Porter Media Group and Imagination Theater upcoming play, “Dracula.” It has also seen many photographers on it’s first Photographer’s Day in April of last year.

Nutting is currently asking Haggard for a possible interview to seek more insight about the history and school at his time. Garavaglia Architecture, Inc, is also continuing with its efforts to assist in rehabilitating the structure.

Preston Castle

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Read more from the full article from the Ledger- Dispatch: Director arrives at Preston Castle for upcoming film on Merle Haggard.