2021 Annual Conference Schedule – Michigan Historic Preservation Network

Historic preservationists are passionate about the power of preservation and place, and often need to communicate the importance of preservation to others. In this session, learn how to be a more persuasive and effective verbal communicator so that your message influences the attitudes and behavior of decision makers and policy makers.

Sponsored by Rentrop & Morrison PC

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Tuesday, May 11

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Communication Skills

Advocacy 101: Talking with Your Legislator

Melissa McKinley, Principal, Kelley-Cawthorne, Lansing

Larry Wagenaar, Vice President, Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan; Executive Director/CEO, Historical Society of Michigan, Lansing

Public Policy is best achieved through constituent contact with elected officials. Legislators work with hundreds of issues each year. How do you get both attention for your cause and the action you hope to achieve? Examine the basics of developing a relationship with your elected officials and how to attain success.

Sponsored by Rentrop & Morrison PC

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Tuesday, May 11

5:30-6:45 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Communication Skills

New Strategies to Reach New Audiences: Three Case Studies

Ron Alpern, Project Coordinator, Southwest Detroit Auto Heritage Guide

Jill Eastcott, Collections Assistant, Michigan History Center, Lansing

Don La Barre, Head of Special Collections, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library

Brian Yopp, Director of Programs & Operations, MotorCities National Heritage Area

The pandemic challenged many organizations, pushing programs and outreach online and causing visitors to access programming remotely. For some organizations, this work complemented past efforts, while others navigated virtual only outreach for the first time. Learn from three organizations working to serve their communities virtually while diversifying their storytelling methods.

Sponsored by Rentrop & Morrison PC

AICP: CM 1.25

Tuesday, May 11

3:00-4:00 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Preservation Essentials

Best Practices for Community Preservation: Survey and National Register Nominations

Katie Kolokithas, Survey Coordinator, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing
Todd Walsh, National Register Coordinator, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Survey is the foundation of historic preservation and provides communities with information needed to make the best preservation decisions. The National Register provides federal recognition, certain preservation incentives, and raises awareness. Staff from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office discuss how these programs work together and how to achieve the best results for your project and community.

Sponsored by Peter Basso Associates/ Illuminart

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

12:00 – 1:15 PM

Tuesday, May 11

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Preservation Essentials

Best Practices for Community Preservation: Local Historic Districts and CLGs

Amy Arnold, Preservation Planner, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Alan Higgins, Certified Local Government Coordinator, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Katie Kolokithas, Survey Coordinator, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Todd Walsh, National Register Coordinator, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Local historic district designation is the key to protecting historic resources. Discussion includes: the local historic district process; what local designation means for a community; the relationship between local districts, survey, and the National Register; and the Certified Local Government program. The goal is to help your community create a strong and successful preservation program.

Sponsored by Peter Basso Associates/ Illuminart

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Tuesday, May 11

5:30-6:45 P.M.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Preservation Essentials

House History Resources

Heidi Butler, Local History Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries, Lansing

Nicole Pickeral, Archivist and Library Aide, Leanna Hicks Public Library

David Votta, Director, Charlotte Community Library

Explore a number of useful local, state, federal, and academic resources for historic home and property research as well as inspiration for beginners.

Sponsored by Peter Basso Associates/ Illuminart

AICP: CM 1.25; AIA: 1 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

12:00-1:15 P.M.

Welcome to the 41st Annual Statewide Preservation Conference

Welcome to the 2021 Conference
Denise McGeen, President, MHPN

Celebration of State Historic Preservation Tax Credit
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Senator Wayne Schmidt
Representative Ben Frederick

Welcome from the 2021 Conference Planning Group
Mark Rodman, Executive Director, MHPN

Introduction of the 2021 Scholarship Recipients
Nathan Nietering
Scholarship Coordinator, 2021
Conference Planning Group

Annual Meeting and Elections

Announcement of the 2022 Host Community

Sponsored by EverGreene Architectural Arts

Wednesday, May 12

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Building Community Around a Forgotten Ballpark

Gary Gillette, Cofounder and chair of the board of directors, Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium, Hamtramck

Brian Powers, AIA, LEED AP, Project Architect, SmithGroup, Chicago

Learn how almost-forgotten Negro League Baseball history persuaded an ethnically changing city to opt for preservation of a historic baseball venue—even though soccer and cricket are by far the most popular sports in the city today..

Sponsored by SmithGroup

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Main Waiting Room Restoration at Michigan Central Station

Angela Wyrembelski, Associate, Quinn Evans Architects, Detroit

Margaret Cowie, Engineer, Silman, Ann Arbor

Derek Trelstad, Associate, Silman, Ann Arbor

One of the first endeavors in the restoration of Michigan Central Station was to analyze and determine repair strategies for the exterior and structure of the Main Waiting Room. Learn how a team of architects, structural engineers, and material conservationists worked together to capture the integrity and ensure the future longevity of this once-neglected space.

Sponsored by Pam and Jon VanderPloeg

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

2:45-4:00 P.M.

Two Municipal Preservation Case Studies: Wyandotte’s Central Fire Station and Lansing’s Moores Park Pool

Erin L. Andrus, AIA , Associate, WTA Architects, Saginaw

Tegan Baiocchi, Architectural Historian, Arcadis US, Fort Wayne, IN

Veronica Gracia-Wing, Writer & Content Strategist, Michigan State University, East Lansing

Thomas Roberts, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Thomas Roberts Architects, Wyandotte

Dale Schrader, President, Preservation Lansing

Wyandotte’s Central Fire Station and Lansing’s Moores Park Pool are both community landmarks that needed critical investment and have enjoyed renewed community support. Understand how the City of Wyandotte decided to rehabilitate their building for modern use, and learn about Lansing’s structural assessment and plans for its historic gem.

Sponsored by Bay View Handworks

AICP: CM 1.25; AIA: 1.25 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

2:45-4:00 P.M.

Community Voices Amplified: A People’s History of Detroit’s Eight Mile/Wyoming Neighborhood

Megha Bamola, Project Associate, Detroit City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board

Janese Chapman, Director, Detroit City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board

Jennifer Reinhardt, Lead Preservation Planner, Detroit City Council Historic Designation Advisory Board

Dwight Smith, President, 8 Mile Old Timers’ Club, Detroit

Discover strategies to create a community-led survey, and discuss common obstacles and limitations and the importance of narratives being redefined and curated by people who have lived experiences within these communities. Learn about the project to survey, document, and amplify the voices of Detroit’s Eight Mile/Wyoming community, one of the earliest Black neighborhoods in the city.

Sponsored by Sandra S. Clark, Michigan History Center

AICP: CM 1.25; AIA: 1.25 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

4:15-5:15 P.M.

What is a TCP?: The Identification, Evaluation, and Nomination of Traditional Cultural Properties/Places

Mario Battaglia, M.A., Ethnographer, Algonquin Consultants, Inc., Portland, OR

Lakota Pochedley, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Gun Lake Tribe, Shelbyville

Traditional Cultural Property/Place (TCP) studies are increasingly integrated into planning and land management projects required under the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and other laws and regulations, including in Michigan. Using collaborative, community-engaged case studies, the presentation highlights the TCP identification, evaluation, and nomination process for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Sponsored by H2A Architects Inc

Wednesday, May 12

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Determining Methods to Assess Structural Stability in Historic Plaster Ceilings and Implementing Repair Strategies

Erica Morasset, Regional Director, Building Conservation Associates, Inc., Detroit

Derek Trelstad, Associate, Silman, Ann Arbor

With the right testing program in place, the structural integrity of historic plaster ceilings can be established, avoiding unnecessary demolition and allowing for restoration.

Sponsored by Architecture + design Inc

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Wednesday, May 12

6:00-7:00 P.M.

Midcentury Modern Virtual House Tour

Deborah Lubera Kawsky, Adjunct Associate Professor of art history at Madonna University

The Lubera Family

Virtually tour the iconic McLucas House (Grosse Pointe Farms, 1950, designed by Alexander Girard) and discuss its preservation and restoration.

Special assistance provided by the Michigan Modern Project of the State Historic Preservation Office and by Docomomo_US/Michigan, and Sponsored by Quinn Evans.

Thursday, May 13

9:00-10:00 A.M.

Special Session: State Rehabilitation Tax Credit

Mark Rodman, Executive Director, MHPN, Lansing

Robbert McKay, Historical Architect, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

With the passage of Michigan’s Senate Bill 54 in late 2020, join this special session to learn more about the program and how it will work.

Sponsored by Neumann/Smith Architecture, Mike Kirk AIA

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Thursday, May 13

9:00-11:00 A.M.

Virtual Vendors’ Showcase and Special Sessions with Vendors

Visit the Virtual Vendors’ Showcase at any time to see the resources, products, and services offered by a wide variety of preservation specialists. During our Special Vendor Sessions, connect with various vendors and hear about their work.

Sponsored by

Wolverine Building Group
730 Eddy Studios
Adair Restoration LLC
Butcher & Butcher Construction Company, Inc.
Cusack’s Masonry Restoration, Inc.
Past Perfect, Inc.
Sanders & Czapski Associates, PLLC

Thursday, May 13

11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

Historic Preservation on a Remote Wilderness Island in Lake Michigan

Stacie Longwell Sadowski, Special Projects Coordinator, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear

Learn about restoration of the Katie Shepard Hotel on North Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This project by Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear, conducted 10 days annually on the remote island over 11 years, has involved dozens of volunteers and a unique partnership with the National Park Service.

Sponsored by Park Smith, AIA

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Thursday, May 13

11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

Minong Copper Mining District National Historic Landmark

Dan Trepal, Postdoctoral Fellow, Michigan Technological University

Seth DePasqual, Cultural Resources Manager, Isle Royale National Park

Minong Ridge combines one of the largest, best preserved precontact copper mining landscapes on the continent with the well-preserved remains of the Minong Mining Company, the largest historic copper mining operation on Isle Royale. Michigan Tech University’s Industrial Archaeology field school conducted fieldwork in 2015 leading to the area’s designation as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) in 2021.

Discover the story of the NHL nomination project and the significance of the Minong Copper Mining District with discussion of the District’s future.

Sponsored by Commonwealth Heritage Group, Inc.

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Thursday, May 13

12:15-1:15 P.M.

Project Site Safety Tidbits

Derek Hibner, Associate III, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Bingham Farms

Cheryl Early, RP APT, Senior Associate, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Bingham Farms

Safety on project sites should be the top concern, but do we always put safety first? If we do, are we donning our PPE correctly and mitigating potential hazards? Review basic PPE, what it is and why it is used, and discuss potential hazards in working with existing buildings.

Sponsored by Park Smith, AIA

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Thursday, May 13

12:15-1:15 P.M.

Building Your Toolbox: Engaging MEDC Programs for Community Preservation

Joe Frost, Main Street Specialist, Michigan Economic Development Corporation | Michigan Main Street, Lansing

Kelly Timmerman, Design Specialist, Michigan Economic Development
Corporation, Lansing

Alan Higgins, Certified Local Government Coordinator, Michigan Economic Development Corporation | Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is working to drive economic development through historic preservation by aligning Michigan Main Street, Redevelopment Ready Communities, and
Certified Local Government programs. Learn from MEDC staff how to engage these programs for proactive historic preservation and community development as a foundation for economic growth.

Sponsored by Building Arts & Conservation

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Thursday, May 13

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Keynote Address: “Looking Back So We Can Move Forward—Connecting Communities to Their History”

Kamla Lewis, Director of Neighborhood Revitalization, Shaker Heights, OH

Kamla Lewis reflects on the role history played in one African American community’s efforts to redefine itself and chart a path forward in the wake of the housing crisis. She shares the lessons learned for community development and preservation professionals as they seek to revitalize neighborhoods and some creative approaches for making history accessible and alive to all.

Sponsored by

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Melinda A. Hill

Eastern Michigan University – Historic Preservation Program

Kidorf Preservation Consulting

Michigan Historic Preservation Network Board, Emeriti, Committees, Partners, and Staff

Sandra S. Clark, Michigan History Center

Martha MacFarlane-Faes

Artisan Renovations LLC

Thursday, May 13

2:45-4:00 P.M.

After-school Special: Introduction to the Detroit Historic Vacant School Building Disposition Strategy

Andrew Wald, Director, Detroit Office, Interboro Partners

Jennifer Ross, Deputy Director of the Historic District Commission staff, City of Detroit, Planning and Development Department, Historic Preservation Division

Maggie Haight, Director, BJH Advisors, New York, NY

Sarah Rush, Senior Associate, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Bingham Farms

After a year-long study, key members of the project team share a summary of the recently completed comprehensive analysis and reuse study of 63 vacant school buildings owned by the City of Detroit and Detroit Public Schools Community District. The project’s unique goals, methods, procedures, and technology will also be discussed.

Sponsored by Bay View Handworks

AICP: CM 1.25; AIA: 1.25 HSW

Thursday, May 13

2:45-4:00 P.M.

The Power of Preservation in the U.P.

Jessica Flores, Owner/Principal, Preservation Forward, East Lansing

Nate Heffron, City Manager, City of Negaunee

Justin Knepper, Owner/Principal, Knepper Development Strategies, Sault Ste Marie

Jeff Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, Houghton

Jen Tucker, Community Assistance Team Member- Region 1, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Learn how a cross-discipline collaboration of professionals, focused on historic preservation, economic development, natural resource conservation, and heritage tourism, are taking a synergistic approach to rebranding Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a 21st-century, world-class place to live, work, study, and get outdoors.

Sponsored by Cornerstone Architects, Inc.

AICP: CM 1.25; AIA: 1 HSW

Thursday, May 13

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Win-Win-Win! Benefits of Co-Locating Nonprofits in Historic Buildings

Diane Kaplan Vinokur, Associate Professor Emerita, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Since 1990, many nonprofit organizations have co-located in historically preserved buildings and thus attained less expensive office space and better staff morale. Our recent book, Shared Space and the New Nonprofit Workplace (2019), documents key examples and the many benefits gained by nonprofits, historic preservationists, and communities in Michigan and beyond.

Sponsored by Kidorf Preservation Consulting

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Thursday, May 13

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Let’s Talk Integrity

Sherry A. Frear, RLA, Chief, National Register Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks, National Park Service, Washington, DC

The National Park Service requires a property have “integrity” for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. What is integrity and how is it determined? What challenges do current interpretations of integrity present with nominating properties associated with underrepresented populations? How might this interpretation change to alleviate these challenges?

Sponsored by The Saarinen (Michigan) Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Thursday, May 13

6:00-7:30 P.M.

The 30th Annual MHPN Awards Evening

Join us to celebrate those honored for exceptional preservation work this past year! Enjoy videos of awardees, their projects, and historic places.

Sponsored by

Christman Historic Preservation Group
AIA Michigan
Bay View Handworks
Conference of Michigan Archaeology
Integrity Building Group
Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs
BlackBerry Window & Door Systems
WTA Architects
HopkinsBurns Design Studio
Charlotte Whitney Stevens

Friday, May 14

11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

Historic and Technical Considerations for Infill and Connected Buildings

Amanda Kight, Project Architect, Kraemer Design Group, Detroit

Brian Rebain, Principal, Kraemer Design Group, Detroit

Drawing from experience on the Shinola Hotel and other projects that include connecting multiple structures, the presenters will discuss exterior design considerations for infill buildings constructed adjacent to historic buildings. They will also share technical expertise regarding navigating common challenges that arise when connecting multiple buildings on the interior.

Sponsored by Bay View Handworks

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.

Tuskegee Aircraft Archaeological Sites in Michigan

Wayne R. Lusardi, State Maritime Archaeologist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Lansing

Aircraft wreck sites are an often forgotten source of archaeological information. Over 1,000 aircraft were lost in the Great Lakes, and many provide opportunities to study our unique aviation heritage.

Sponsored by Commonwealth Heritage
Group, Inc.

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

12:15-1:15 P.M.

Recreating Historic Storefronts: Connecting People and Places One Storefront at a Time

Laura Mitchell, Project Architect | Team Lead, Kraemer Design Group, Detroit

One of the most significant features of a building when defining a sense of place is the storefront. As owners and tenants change over time, important historic materials are often lost. Case studies from Detroit explore the methods and challenges of recreating lost storefronts, and how storefront renovations can have a significant impact on connections between buildings, people, and history.

Sponsored by Bay View Handworks

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

12:15-1:15 P.M.

State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) Capital Improvement Grant Program

Jeff Garrett, MCACA Program Manager, State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Lansing
Representatives from Athens Area Historical Society, Croswell Opera House, and Van Buren District Library

The MCACA Capital Improvement program is a competitive grant for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and municipalities. The program funds facility expansion or renovation, equipment upgrades, increased accessibility, and the integration of energy-efficient technologies. Learn about the program and hear from grant recipients.

Sponsored by Kidorf Preservation Consulting

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Friday, May 14

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Heritage Mines and the Energy Transition

Timothy J. Scarlett, Associate Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton

Community-led design and industrial heritage preservation can serve as a pathway to energy transition, providing Michigan’s post-mining communities with an opportunity to convert liabilities into assets. Work at Michigan Technological University demonstrates how abandoned mines could be profitably converted into storage facilities for electrical energy.

Sponsored by Farr Associates Architecture and Kidorf Preservation Consulting

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

1:30-2:30 P.M.

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation 101

Robbert McKay, Historical Architect, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing

Unearth the basics of the application of the Standards for Rehabilitation (36CFR67).

Sponsored by Reagan Family Dentistry and Rod Kreger and Betsy LaVier

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

2:45-4:00 P.M.

The Friday Plenary, “Oh, You’re with Them: From Us vs. Them to Co-creation”

Moderator and Panelist Lauren A. Hood, AfroUrbanist and planning practitioner working at the intersection of Black aspiration and city change

Panelist Amber N. Mitchell, Director of Programs at STEM NOLA, and former Assistant Director of Public Engagement at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans

Panelist Dawn DiPrince, Chief Operating Officer for History Colorado and the former director of El Pueblo History Museum

Engaging communities that have a history of disinvestment can be challenging as an outsider even with the best intentions. Previous experiences have generated distrust and “what you need” is not the same as “what we need.” Join our panel of successful community planners and discover how they help bridge the divide, actively engage a community, and accomplish meaningful, citizen-driven results.

Sponsored by Plante Moran

AICP: CM 1.25

Friday, May 14

4:15-5:15 P.M.

The People and the Plan: Engaging the Community in Preservation Planning

Abigail Christman, Senior City Planner in Landmark Preservation, Community Planning and Development, City and County of Denver, CO

Traci Stoffel, Main Street Specialist, State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs

Producing a relevant, meaningful, and achievable community preservation plan requires input from the community. Explore plans and outreach efforts from across the country and learn innovative techniques for engagement. This interactive session uses web-based audience response software to capture participant input and provides ideas for holding the attention of your community.

Sponsored by Kidorf Preservation Consulting

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 HSW

Friday, May 14

4:15-5:15 P.M.

Revisiting the Early Dwellings of Lodi Township

Dan Bonenberger, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Historic Preservation, Eastern Michigan University

Annie Gaston, Graduate Student, Eastern Michigan University Timothy Sabo, Graduate Student, Eastern Michigan University

Timothy Sabo, Graduate Student, Eastern Michigan University

Haylee Wills, Graduate Student, Eastern Michigan University

Alexander Whydell, Graduate Student, Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University graduate students surveyed Lodi Township using archival and field research techniques to fill gaps in the digital archive. The students will discuss their process, findings, and the effect of change. Their work raises awareness about the location and significance of these early farms and may contribute to their preservation.

Sponsored by Preservation Ladies & Gents

AICP: CM 1; AIA: 1 LU

Saturday, May 15

8:30 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

(Included in conference registration; $10 as stand-alone training)

Ramona Murphy Bartos, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer and Administrator, North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office

Ray Scriber, Director of the Louisiana Main Street program, Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation

Kim Trent, Principal, Preservation Strategies

The Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) is available to historic district commissioners and municipal staff who work with historic district commissions. CAMP training will
feature high-quality, engaging content on local preservation best practices, offered through a series of presentations, exercises, and discussions led by
recognized leaders in the preservation field and implemented virtually via Zoom.
Through discussion, exercises, and case studies, attendees will gain first-hand knowledge of critical local preservation topics, including making defensible decisions based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, complying with legal standards and engaging effective enforcement programs, building public support for local preservation programs, and developing local preservation
incentives and benefits.
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to partner with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and MHPN to bring CAMP training to Michigan’s historic district commissions!

AICP: CM 4.5

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