Getting Away From “No”: Straight Talk to Local Advocates

When asked a few years ago at a Preservation Partners meeting, “what are preservation’s greatest barriers?” I named historic/design review boards. There was an audible gasp! But yes, I believe poorly trained, though well-intentioned, “hysterical preservationists” have done about as much damage as wrecking balls.

Are there any among you who do not cringe when you mention your association with historic preservation and are met with, “Oh, you tell people what color to paint their house.” God no! We build communities for the future. Where on earth did anyone get the idea that we care about what color you paint your house? Hmm . . . I think I know where that came from. Some days, the unflattering view of historic preservation among the general public seems insurmountable. The saddest part is, it was created by well-meaning review boards that likely had no training.

So how do we move away from this perception and reality? We may need new kinds of organizations, new kinds of structures. And we need to bring others along to new ways of thinking.

Heritage Ohio is the first organization in the country to bring the work of coordinating a statewide Main Street program and administering a statewide historic preservation nonprofit under one roof because we believe the National Main Street Center’s approach is the most pragmatic way to solve downtown problems through historic preservation. Our organization engages in three areas of work: revitalization, overseeing Main Street programs in 23 Ohio communities; preservation through traditional activities such as an easement program and an Old House Fair; and advocacy, which has included helping to create a state historic tax credit and now entails working to support continued funding for both the state and federal programs. Our mission is “Helping people to save the places that matter—build community—live better,” and our programming supports that mission. Nowhere does it say “stand in front of bulldozers” (and we’ve taken some criticism from folks who want us to do that). But if you are looking ahead toward solving problems, you really don’t have much time to fight the battle of “got there too late.” We will never know all the buildings we saved by investing time in creating Ohio’s historic tax credit and working to save the credit over and over again. But that’s a better use of our time, with much more impact in the long run, although it may not be what some people think a “traditional” historic preservation organization does.

As part of the Ohio Main Street Program’s quarterly training, Heritage Ohio staff cycled 133 miles from Columbus to Greenville in two days, stopping in towns along the way to talk about “bikability.” In Greenville, they were joined by the town’s mayor, economic development director and Main Street manager.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HERITAGE OHIO.

On a tour of Akron organized by Heritage Ohio, architects and developers reviewed historic tax credit projects with staffers from the offices of Senator Portman and Governor Kasich.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HERITAGE OHIO.

Several years ago, I prepared a presentation called “Not Your Grandma’s Preservation Organization.” The intent was to nudge preservation organizations toward looking at changes in our culture as well as looking to the future of how we will sustain membership and interest in historic preservation. Millennials, thankfully, are pushing re-urbanization, and their voices are critical to the future of our organizations. A representative of Heritage Ohio’s new affiliated group, Young Ohio Preservationists, holds a seat on our board of directors, and the input that group provides is sure to influence the perspective of Ohio’s preservation movement in the years to come.

A diverse group of advocates from Ohio met with Congressman Michael Turner, a national leader for preservation policy, during the National Preservation Conference held last November in Washington, DC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HERITAGE OHIO.

But we’re still in transition. In the meantime, here are some of...