Historic Properties Redevelopment Program

http://blog.preservationleadershipforum.rg/2014/06/19/new-program-historic-property-developers-launches/#.U6tDzo1dVYy

Historic trolley depot
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
blog.preservationleadershipforum.org

Hello Everyone:

Once again, the drop box folder seems to be in need of cleaning out.  To put a dent in the clutter, I found this wonderful blog post by Melissa Jest for the Preservation Leadership Forum titled "New Program for Historic Property Developers Launches."  As I've said time and again, preservation is not about being anti-development, it's anti-inappropriate development.  To wit, our friends at the National Trust for Historic Preservation have launched a new program called Historic Property Redevelopment Program.  Supported by the 1772 Foundation, the program is designed to

...sustain the positive impacts of preservation on the ground and expand the network of historic property redevelopers.  HPRP  will explore the common ground shared by the broad community of preservation organizations, revolving fund managers, nonprofit community developers, city and planning officials, and social entrepreneurs working and reinvesting in older and historic properties.

Electric trolley (c.1892)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
philadelphiaencyclopedia.org

The transformation of an historic trolley depot in North Philadelphia is a good example of how the HPRP can work.  Tonetta Graham, the executive director of the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation was heart broken over the threatened demise of the beloved 110-year old historic Bus Barn in her North Philadelphia neighborhood.  In 2012, the City of Philadelphia wanted to demolish the building to make way for a new transit hub.  If she could, she would've "heart-bombed" the building with "...with hundreds of homemade paper hearts and love letters..."  Instead of doing the stereotypical preservationist thing and chaining herself to the building, Ms. Graham reached out to the local preservation organizations and combined forces.  The result was the two groups were able to successfully advocate for the depot's reuse and inclusion in the new transit scheme.  At present, the Strawberry Mansion CDC uses this collaborative approach to preservation to encourage additional reinvestment in the area properties.

Frankford Depot (1955) with Brill trolley (1923)
phillytrolley.org

Melissa Jest has reason to trumpet this successful collaboration between preservation advocacy and property redevelopment.  Ms. Jest is the manager of the HPRP and vows to work on strengthening and expanding "the network of individuals and organizations involved directly with saving endangered historic properties and provide support as they share and apply effective redevelopment and financing techniques."  Ms. Jest also hopes to engage her colleagues within and without the organization "to develop, identify and share information and best practices in the field of revolving funds and historic property redevelopment."

Community development corporations are excellent and logical partners for preservation organizations and their leaders are just as excited about joining a national network of preservation-minded organizations.  In Ms. Jest's opening months as manager of the program, she has spoken involved with redeveloping historic properties and was inspired by their stories.

Asylum Hill neighborhood
Hartford, Connecticut
tripadvisor.com

Another example of this joining of forces can be found in the Asylum Hill neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut.  The Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, Inc is currently at work to remediate blight caused by foreclosures in the area.  Ken Johnson, executive director of NINA said, "his organization stands up for historic properties ignored by the private market.  With preservation, we've found our niche..." However these undertakings require subsidies in order to function and Mr. Johnson added that he would be grateful for a more flexible source of funds like state or local preservation revolving funds.  While NINA is focused on local projects, it would be beneficial to be in touch with what's happening around the United States.

Charles Beiderbecke House
Hamburg Historic District
Davenport, Iowa
en.wikipedia.org

One more example in Davenport, Iowa.  Marion McGinnis and her husband Jack Haberman formed the non-profit Gateway Redevelopment Group in 2004.  The McGinnis-Haberman group joined forces with their neighbors to save the abandoned buildings in the Hamburg Historic District.  Ms. McGinnis said, "This is very important and personal for us."  The GRG is currently involved in its third preservation project and expanded its partners and preservation toolkit.  Ms. McGinnis believes that her her organization has a lot to offer the preservation movement.

When the home mortgage crisis first erupted in 2007, many people lost their homes and once thriving communities fell into despair.  Houses were vacated due foreclosures and blight set upon the community.  Initiatives like the Historic Properties Redevelopment Programs make it possible for people to rescue their communities for further blight, rehabilitate, and reuse deteriorating buildings now and in the future.  The HPRP is an excellent example of community advocates and preservationists getting together and managing change.  After all, this is what historic preservation is about.

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