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Event & Conference Details
Michigan Places Matter: Discovering How Your Community’s Cultural Resources Can Make Your Placemakin
May 14-17, 2014 |
The Michigan Historic Preservation Network is pleased to bring its 34th annual statewide preservation conference to the City of Jackson for the first time. Anticipating 400 participants for the four days of conference programming, MHPN leaders are enthusiastic about having people from around the state and the Midwest gather in Jackson. “The history of Jackson is a long and rich one,” states Melissa Milton-Pung, MHPN President. “The city – located at the intersection of major Native American trails and later the junction of major railroads – became a center of industry, culture, recreation, and noteworthy architecture. We’re looking forward to being there.”
Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway notes that the conference is offering its usual array of excellent educational sessions, adding that the program aligns with Governor Rick Snyder’s common sense approach to placemaking. “The MHPN always has advocated that ‘place’ is best created using the historic architecture found in your community. These buildings and structures and sites – oftentimes found together in striking districts – give your community its distinctive appearance. That’s certainly true in Jackson.”
“Our speakers are experts in their fields,” continues Nancy Finegood, MHPN Executive Director. “Our five tracks of programming provide attendees with the knowledge they need to give shape to their own preservation efforts. For example, Track One showcases all sizes of Michigan communities and inspirational projects representing the conference theme.” Restoration of the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, the Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, and the Bohm Theatre in Albion is discussed in the session titled “Small Communities, Big Projects.” From the City of Detroit comes the session “Reviving the Motor City: Four Perspectives on Preservation
and Rehabilitation.” And “Claire Allen: A Regional Architect Master Based in Jackson” highlights the architectural genius of the host city’s adopted son.
Track Two looks at the skills needed for success. The MHPN again offers its ticketed workshop titled “Incentives for Successful Preservation Projects.” Always a sell-out, the session provides an in-depth discussion of Governor Synder's "Community Reinvestment Program." Speakers review how well preservation projects compete within the program and discuss the power of combining it with other incentives to help secure conventional financing. In other sessions, experts study the assistance programs available for rural preservation, the challenge of right-sizing, and landbanks as allies of preservation.
Overseen by the MHPN’s Historic Resource Council, Track Three looks at techniques for restoring historic properties. Sessions have lectures and demonstrations on how to work with historic brick and stone masonry, restore historic lighting fixtures, and preserve the fragile and often experimental materials used in Michigan’s Mid-Century Modern buildings. From Jackson comes the session titled “Reviving an Unusual Building Type: The Prison,” telling the story of saving and repurposing the first State of Michigan penitentiary as artists’ housing, studios, and exhibition space.
Track Four includes the efforts of two of our partners. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s State Archaeologist uses the session titled “Archaeology and Place-Making in Detroit” to show that the unrecorded past sometimes is best at connecting us with a complex urban environment. During an off-site session titled “The Hidden World of the Archaeological Laboratory,” the local Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group hosts participants for an afternoon with professional archaeologists. Another partner, the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, presents sessions exploring such topics as revitalizing historic barns for new purposes.
Track Five offers tours of our host community. “From Jacksonburg to Jackson: A Brief Tour of a Long History” is this year’s city tour. During “Church and State: The Jackson Experience,” guests visit three of the city’s spectacular churches and the County Tower, all featuring noteworthy stained glass windows. Those hopping on the bus for “Jackson Parks: History, Culture, and Open Spaces” and “Jackson Railroad History and Sites” get an in-depth review of historic resources key to Jackson’s importance. And during “The Heart of Jackson’s Downtown: An Evening Walking Tour,” guests discuss efforts to keep the center city vital.
Saturday morning’s workshop - “Today’s Historic District Commission: Doing More with Less” - considers the challenges faced by local preservation commissions with dwindling budgets. Saturday also features a program for those contemplating taking on a preservation project, “Building Condition Assessment: Knowing What You’re Working with Before You Start!” After an in-seat presentation, participants visit a building undergoing restoration to apply what they have learned.
Elaine Robinson, an MHPN past president and local planning group member, looks forward to hosting attendees. “In addition to great programming, there are many special events,” she enthuses. Wednesday’s all-day tour is the fourth in the MHPN’s “Great Michigan Road Trips” initiative and is titled “History, Culture, and Kitsch: A Cruise along US-12 through the Irish Hills.” Thursday evening features the Vendors’ Showcase and Community Open House and the popular Preservation Pub Crawl. Friday offers a lunch with Jackson Mayor Jason Smith and the 2014 MHPN Scholars; the keynote address presented by Ronald Bogle, President and CEO of the American Architectural Foundation; and the Annual Preservation Awards, this year held at the stunning Michigan Theatre of Jackson. Throughout the conference, guests can bid on auction items, vie for a great raffle prize, pick up must-have books at the “Half Ton Used Book Sale,” and enjoy the Second Annual Preservation Film Festival.
Thursday evening’s Community Open House and Friday’s keynote address are both free and open to the public as is a Friday morning session that offers a close-up look at the conference theme. “An Invitation for Creativity in Your Community: Michigan’s Placemaking Initiative” is presented by James Tischler, Director, Community Development Division, Michigan State Housing Development Authority and Arnold Weinfeld, Director, Strategic Initiatives, and President, Michigan Municipal League Foundation.
To learn about the conference, download the brochure at www.mhpn.org or request a copy at admin@mhpn.org or (517) 371-8080 at the close of February. Costs range from $65-$390 for members; prices have not gone up since 2008. There are member benefits (on-the-spot membership is on the registration form), single-day pricing, reductions for full-time students and those 60+, an early-bird discount, and low Saturday prices. Most sessions and tours are approved for MCP, AICP, and AIA credits. Also consider that you can “Make It a Jackson Weekend.” The Country Inn & Suites has extended its conference rate to include both Tuesday and Saturday nights, and the website for Experience Jackson – www.experiencejackson.com – shows how much there is to do!
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Website:
www.mhpn.org/?page_id=154 |
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| Location Information |
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Commonwealth Commerce Center |
209 E. Washington Avenue
Jackson, MI 49201 |
| Website:
www.commonwealthcommerce.com/ |
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| Contact Information |
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Nancy Finegood |
| Email:
info@mhpn.org |
| Phone:
517-371-8080 |
| Fax:
517-371-9090 |
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