State to host Preservation Workshop in GH on Nov. 17

Mon, Nov 9, 2009    to del.icio.us

The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office will host a "Preservation Workshop" in Grand Haven on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The workshop will be held at Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Ave., from 9 a.m. to noon.

It is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To reserve a seat, call the Grand Haven Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 842-4499 by Thursday.

The workshop will explain the different types of historic designations and their benefits, the preservation tax credits available to business and residential property owners, the standards and criteria for preservation work in historic districts, and the environmental review process required for federally funded projects. The program will also provide an overview of the West Michigan Pike Heritage Route project.

Historic preservation is a proven economic development tool that has helped to revitalize neighborhoods in cities across the country, according to the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. It is a way to preserve the unique visual character of a community and keep it a place that tourists will want to visit and return to year after year. Preservation is also a means of retaining the places where generations of residents have shared an experience, and protecting that which gives pride and meaning to the community.

The program is being made possible by a Preserve America grant through the National Park Service, in conjunction with the Grand Haven Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Michigan Beachtowns.