THE 41st ANNUAL STATEWIDE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE
Connections: People, Pathways, and Preservation
MAY 11-15, 2021
Virtual From Michigan
Schedule at a Glance
Click Session for More Information
- KEY SESSIONS
- COMMUNICATION SKILLS WORKSHOP
- PRESERVATION ESSENTIALS WORKSHOP
- THEME
- INFORMATION
- APPLIED SKILLS
Tuesday, May 11
3:00-4:00 P.M.
Pre-Conference Workshop: Communication Skills
Communication 101: Persuasion for Preservationists
Gwen Wittenbaum, PhD, Associate Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing
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
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, theme track icon
Gary Gillette, Cofounder and chair of the board of directors, Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium, Hamtramck
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 Vander Ploeg
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
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., New York, NY
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
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
AICP: CM __; AIA: __
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.
Michigan Archaeology in the National Register of Historic Places
Stacy Tchorzynski, Senior Archaeologist, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Lansing
The State Archaeological Site File includes nearly 25,000 sites spanning approximately 14,000 years of state history. Given this wealth of archaeological resources, why are so few sites nominated to the National Register of Historic Places? Learn about Michigan archaeology’s representation in the NRHP, the impacts of underrepresentation, common barriers to nomination, and paths for progress.
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
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
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
9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.
(Included in conference registration; $10 as stand-alone training)
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
The 41st Annual Statewide Preservation Conference is underwritten through the generous support of
Thank You to Our 2021 Conference Sponsors
