[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter-June 24, 2019

[Skelly, Christopher (SEC)]

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER
Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
June 24, 2019

IDEAS FOR BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT
Listed below are over 70 ideas for building support for your local preservation efforts.  What ideas would you add to this list?  What are your success stories with building pubic support?

Community Education, Outreach and Engagement
Begin a historic plaque program for property owners
Install interpretive signage throughout the historic district
Create a local preservation website
Manage a social media presence
Hold a workshop for contractors
Hold a workshop for realtors
Hold a workshop on wood window repair
Hold an architectural styles workshop
Hold a research your old home workshop
Hold a workshop on energy conservation in historic buildings
Install entering historic district signs to your districts
Incorporate historic districts into wayfinding signage
Organize an old house fair
Write a monthly newspaper column
Speak at meetings of local social and benevolent groups
Meet with the chamber of commerce to discuss economic development
Print a poster of the historic district suitable for framing
Print copies of old historic maps
Publicize and celebrate relevant anniversaries
Display historic photos in the library or town hall
Write a monthly or quarterly newsletter to property owners
Invite property owners to an annual listening session
Submit success story press releases to the newspaper
Create a calendar of historic photos
Organize a historic photo scanning event
Organize an oral history project
Lead historic walking or bicycling neighborhood tours
Lead historic burial ground tours
Hold a celebration for new national register listings
Provide certificates to owners of national register listed properties

Holding Public Meetings and Hearings
Treat all people fairly and respectfully
Listen and ask questions
Don't engage in side conversations
Maintain strict ethical standards
Come to meetings prepared
Review whether the hearing room meets best practices for public hearings
Improve and update your local historic district design guidelines
Quote from your design guidelines in the decision-making process
Adopt Findings of Fact that support your decision
Explain the local historic district process at each public hearing
Have a meeting procedures handout in addition to a printed agenda
Send your agendas to other local boards and commissions

Commission Education and Improvement
Organize a regional meeting of preservation commissions
Become a certified local government
Attend the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum
Attend training offered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission
Review educational materials provided by National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
Regularly review applicable state historic preservation laws
Regularly review your local historic preservation bylaw or ordinance

Local and State Elected Officials
Present accomplishments annually to the Select Board or City Council
Provide quarterly written progress updates to the Select Board or City Council
Invite local and state elected officials to speak at events
Submit an annual report to your elected officials and local board members
Present a preservation award to a local or state elected official

School and Student Activities
Create an architectural eye spy scavenger hunt for children
Create a local historic building coloring book for children
Meet with local educators about bringing local history into the classroom
Create before and after photos for classroom activities

Local Non Profits and Friends Groups
Start a local non-profit preservation organization or friends group
Sponsor social and entertaining events
Hold fundraising events
Hold an annual preservation awards program
Start an annual endangered properties program

Preservation Planning
Update and expand your local historic property inventory
List properties on the National Register of Historic Places
Prepare a historic preservation plan with the assistance of a consultant
Adopt a realistic annual work program to accomplish specific preservation plan goals and objectives
Review zoning and other municipal regulations

REGIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRAINING WORKSHOPS
If you are interested in hosting a regional workshop for local commissions, MHC staff may be available to present a workshop in your community. Typical topics include an Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning, Administering Demolition Delay Bylaws and Ordinances, Establishing Local Historic Districts, Preparing a Municipal Preservation Plan, Secretary of the Interior Standards and Local Historic District Design Guidelines, Benefits of Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation:  With or Without a Local Historic District, Architectural Preservation Districts as well as others.   Contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> for more information.

PRESERVATION ADVOCACY SUCCESS STORIES
Do you have a success story to share where a threatened historic resource was saved through local grassroots advocacy?  Advocacy includes techniques such as contacting local elected officials, speaking at public hearings, letter writing campaigns, organizing a friends group, raising funds, alerting the local media as well as many other techniques.  The Massachusetts Historical Commission is compiling success stories that could be shared with other communities facing threatened historic resources.  Of particular interest are examples from communities that do not have demolition delay.  If you have a success story to share, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>.

NEW LISTINGS IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Boston, Intervale Street-Columbia Road Historic District
Boston, Samuel Edelman Apartments
Cambridge, George Close Co.
Kingston, William Sever House
Springfield, Federal Square Historic District
Boston, Mount Hope Cemetery Technical Amendment
Duxbury, Cove Street Historic District

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER
September 20, 2019
2019 State Historic Preservation Conference.  Plymouth.

Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us<mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us>

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