Intro to Best Practices

Editor's Notes

• #2: Welcome to the 3 rd workshop of the Cultural Resources Essentials series. [introduce self]   Before I introduce our speakers, I’d like to orient you with your packet contents and go over some general housekeeping items…
• #3: Housekeeping   - As in all the previous workshops, we have not provided copies of the PowerPoint presentations in an effort to conserve paper.   - Your packet contains a CD of today’s presentations, guidance, articles, publications, and forms related to the workshop’s content. We have not printed the CD Contents for inclusion in your packet as we have previously, but rather the list of CD contents is burned to the CD.   - Questions will be taken after each presentation if time permits. If time does not allow us to take your question following a presentation, you will find two index cards in your packet; these are to be used for asking questions during the wrap up at the end of the day. If your question is not answered by the time you leave today, please write them on your evaluation. All participants who provided an email address on their registration form will be emailed all of the questions asked and the answers prepared by the staff.   - Please also note that there is an additional question on the workshop’s evaluation [yellow piece of paper in your packet]. We would like everyone to help us build the agenda for the final workshop in the series, Forum . We are asking you to provide ideas and content suggestions so we can tailor the workshop to meet your needs. We plan to offer Forum during The Statewide Conference on Heritage in 2013.   Please silence your cell phones. If this is the final workshop in the CRE series you need to complete to receive your certificate and acknowledgment on the PHMC consultant list, please see me at the break.
• #4: “ Best Practices” is a buzzword that is used to communicate a standard way of doing things. Best Practices can be in the details or represent the big picture.   Best Practices is the third workshop in the Cultural Resources Essentials series. This Best Practices workshop will not cover principles of historic preservation or provide an introduction to the Bureau’s programs however its intent is to help make some connections between theory and practice.   Since the conference this year is combined with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) [of the National Research Council] ADC50 [Committee on Historic and Archaeological Preservation in Transportation ], Best Practices will have an emphasis on best practices for transportation projects. Our agenda includes "what's new" at the PA State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) = this will be a quick overview of new tools and resources that were developed over the past year. Then we’ll discuss how ProjectPATH facilitates consultation between the PA SHPO and PENNDOT. After the break you’ll learn about how to apply the guidance available from our office related to contexts for post war suburbs, urban redevelopment resources, railroads, and agricultural resources. We’ll wrap up the workshop with an overview of the PA SHPO's Long Range Planning Partnership with regional planning organizations.
• #5: Why did we choose to focus on Best Practices for Transportation Projects?? When we were developing the content for this workshop we explored a number of ideas and topics. Certainly, the theme for the conference this year is skewed toward transportation due to the partnership with the Transportation Research Board. However we thought it was also timely to share the progress and outcomes of the PHMC’s ongoing partnership with PENNDOT and FHWA since our programmatic agreement was expanded in 2010. There is an ever-growing need for government efficiency. The PHMC and PENNDOT worked collaboratively to assess the old model for project review and we explored alternatives to streamline the review process. Since the PHMC is not a regulatory agency, we needed to capitalize on the flexibility Section 106 offers. The new programmatic agreement allows us to develop tools and resources to promote better decisions and aid in project planning and predictability.
• #6: Today we will highlight some successful outcomes resulting from our partnership with PENNDOT. Positive changes include: Public involvement and transparency is emphasized; you will learn more later about how our office uses PATH We’ve established an almost completely electronic environment for document review, eliminating a lot of paper and redundancy Our office is spending less time on no-effect projects and more time with consulting parties and other interested parties to resolve adverse effects The agreement provides us the ability to “jump in” and consult when there is public controversy or at the request of the cultural resource professionals in the district offices, tribes, or consulting parties The new agreement establishes ongoing training requirements for PENNDOT district Cultural Resources Professionals and other district staff. One requirement is attendance at CRE – how many PENNDOT staff are here today? We feel the partnership is working very well. We hope this relationship will not be limited to PENNDOT. We’ve learned a lot through the development of this agreement that could certainly serve as a model for working with other agencies. A lot has happened over the past year, let’s now dive into What’s New beginning with some staff introductions…
• #8: Approximately 6 years ago we established regions that are served by the Bureau’s community preservation coordinators. Hopefully you all have had the chance to meet Bill Callahan in Western PA and Bryan Van Sweden who covers the Central region. This past November the Bureau welcomed Cory Kegerise. Cory Kegerise is the Community Preservation Coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania. Like Bill and Bryan, Cory is responsible for providing planning, policy and technical assistance on a wide variety of preservation-related issues to local governments, community organizations, and individuals in a 13 county region stretching from Philadelphia to Wayne County. Immediately prior to joining PHMC, Cory was the Administrator of Local Programs at the Maryland Historical Trust, the State Historic Preservation Office. Cory has also served as the Executive Director of the Elfreth’s Alley Association in Philadelphia, worked as a preservation consultant, and as a grants manager for a National & State Heritage Area. Cory is a native of Berks County, Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
• #9: Handles project review for Section 106 and the State History Code. Until recently, the division of archaeology and protection had a vacancy. The Bureau welcomed Barbara Frederick in January to serve as the new historic structures supervisor. Barbara Frederick is a historic structures reviewer in our office. She is responsible for reviewing project documents submitted to our office in compliance with Section 106 and the State History Code. Previously she worked as a consultant for over 12 years, where she assisted agencies in carrying out their Section 106 compliance responsibilities. Barbara is a former employee of the National Park Service in the National Historic Landmarks Survey and Museum Management Programs. Barbara also holds a degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
• #10: Many of you may have participated in the Community Preservation Values Survey (April to October 2010); or attended one our Regional Public Forums (April to July 2011) and are very familiar with the newest Strategic Plan. Combined with the Community Preservation Values Survey results, the findings of the economic benefits report informed the other public participation and outreach efforts and helped to formulate this Plan’s Action Agenda.
• #11: Goal 1 Preservation planning is most successful when conducted at the local level. The role of state government is not to undertake widespread preservation on its own, but to mobilize resources and provide a framework for preservation that positions municipal governments, partner agencies, preservation advocates, and the general public to preserve the cultural and historic resources important to them and the future of their communities. The first step in Goal 1 is to collect survey information from communities in the state and identify their needs and resources of local importance. The next step is to provide training and tools that local governments need to make informed decisions about preservation and realize the long-term advantages that preservation can provide.
• #12: Goal 2 Many state and federal agencies play a role in Pennsylvania’s efforts to grow its economy and build better communities, in part through preservation. With government resources and budgets constrained, now is a good time to increase collaboration and use public resources wisely. Through the effective use of public policy and funding, agencies can reduce the amount of time spent in required state and federal consultation processes, eliminate duplicative efforts and associated spending, and achieve their own goals while providing greater public benefit. Goal 2 identifies ways that state and federal agencies can work together and take action to make Pennsylvania’s preservation efforts faster, easier, less expensive, and more wide-reaching.
• #13: Goal 3 Hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals in Pennsylvania work to advance preservation. To date, there has been minimal effort spent by the Commonwealth to harness the collective power of these advocates to work toward reaching statewide preservation goals. Goal 3 identifies ways that preservation advocacy can be more effective and identifies the tools and resources that advocates need to be successful.
• #14: Goal 4 Communication, education, and social interaction occur differently than they did as recently as a decade ago. Getting the preservation message out to existing and new preservation audiences is essential to building support and keeping people engaged in preservation issues and topics. Today, the preservation ethic is entwined with other social topics and movements. These include environmental sustainability, local food production, and even outdoor recreation and travel. Goal 4 is geared toward the use of effective communication tools and capturing people’s interest in Pennsylvania history and preservation.
• #15: Goals 1, 2, 3, and 4 and their associated Objectives and Actions address statewide preservation needs and desires. In order to be successful, some modifications will need to be made in the way BHP operates in its role as Pennsylvania’s SHPO. Goal 5 addresses those system changes and sets forth a strategy that will better enable BHP to implement this Plan with ease and effectiveness. Includes: website improvements, systems improvements including eGrant and CRGIS, better communication strategies, additional staff as the Commonwealth budget allows, and encouraging Historical Marker and National Register Nominations for resources that reinforce, promote, and publicize the goals of the Statewide Plan.
• #16: PHMC, through a grant from Preserve America, a federal program, commissioned a report entitled Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation Activities in Pennsylvania to study the link between historic preservation and economic development in the Commonwealth. The report’s executive summary highlights the tangible benefits of historic preservation for local communities. In summary, the report contains the following information:   Analyzes the positive impact on increased property values for properties located in locally designated historic districts under Pennsylvania’s Historic District Act; and
• #17: Outlines the annual $2.9 billion economic and fiscal impact of Heritage Tourism around Pennsylvania’s twelve Heritage Areas and other key historic sites, supporting 37,000 jobs and generating $90 million in state tax revenues;
• #18: Calculates a $17.1 billion economic impact of the federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit (RITC) program in Pennsylvania between 1978 and 2010, supporting 148,000 jobs and generating $380 million in state tax revenues; Evaluates the potential fiscal impact of a similar state-level historic tax credit; As Mindy Crawford of Preservation Pennsylvania will no doubt announce in tomorrow’s plenary session, their lobbying efforts to create a 25% state tax credit was successful and was included in the 2011-2012 Commonwealth budget. Although details are not finalized yet, we do know that this program is a companion to the federal program and so to be eligible for the state credit you must receive your approval of your project at the federal level too. Obviously, please stay tuned for more details as the program is developed.
• #19: NPS also updated their forms for the RITC program, streamlining the instructions and adding project contact information. Their website also includes “fillable” versions of the form. We’ve also provided the link in your packets today as well as a pdf version of the instructions. We were required to only accept these new forms January 1, 2012. Please see me if you want a hard copy of the instructions.
• #20: The 1984 fee schedule set fixed fees of $500, $800, $1,500, and $2,500, grouped into four project size categories, with the maximum fee for projects $1,000,000 and above.   - No fee for projects under $50K (compared to $20K under the current fees) - Projects $50K and above, the fee would be $800 + 0.15% (0.0015) of rehabilitation costs over $50,000 - Maximum fee of $6,500, for projects $3,850,000 and above - 50% would be charged at the Part 2 application, and the remainder at the Part 3 application   The comment period ends on July 23. After NPS has the opportunity to fully consider any comments received, they will publish the final new fee schedule and effective date. The new fees will apply to new and complete Part 2 applications received by the SHPOs after the effective date. We will provide additional direction to the SHPO offices once we are closer to implementation (still at least 3 or more months out).
• #21: NPS is also adapting to changes in technology, in effort to make things easier. We expect to see changes to the National Register Nomination Form and required supplemental materials; some of their changes will result in changes to our HRSFs. As NR changes become finalized we’ll be sharing them with frequent preparers, and when we update the HRSF we’ll share that as well. Dave will be mentioning the latitude/longitude option, and how to generate those coordinates using our CRGIS. Also included in your packet today are some upcoming webinar that the National Park Service has scheduled.
• #23: Pennsylvania's history is deeply rooted in freedom of religion and spiritual expression. These essential freedoms were principles set forth by William Penn and his followers in establishing Penn's Woods and in creating a frame of government in the 17th century. Pennsylvania claims many ecclesiastical and spiritual firsts. Native American spirituality was an important part of culture and life among such peoples. Specific denominations were founded here that includes the Scotch Reformed Presbyterians, Brethren in Christ, the United Brethren, and the first Byzantine Catholic denomination in the United States. Pennsylvania is also home to original spiritual communities such as Ephrata Cloister, Celestia, and Old Economy Village. The Keystone State is also home to foundational churches such as Mother Bethel AME in Philadelphia, St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, the first Italian national parish, and the Polish National Catholic Church. Likewise, 2011 is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Lutheran Church in America by Henry Muhlenberg and its first church, Augustus Lutheran, a National Historic Landmark, located in Trappe. And, Pennsylvania is home to many religion-based camps, retreats, schools, orphanages and seminaries. Our First Friends, The Early Quakers Sacred Places in Pennsylvania William Penn's Legacy Cultivating Piety: The Religious World of Joseph Price The Great Law Ephrata Cloister Old Economy Village William Penn in Pennsylvania African American Churches of Philadelphia, 1787-1949 African American Religion & Religious Practices in Pennsylvania Historical Markers Religious Communities in Pennsylvania Religious Architecture of Pennsylvania Suburbs Religious Buildings in Architectural Field Guide Benjamin Franklin and His Religious Beliefs