Preservation posts, 2017 December

Preservation Posts - December 2017
Georgia Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 12/15/2017 12:15 PM EST
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A Message from the Director Players in the Section 106 Process: The Applicant and Local Government Staff Profile: Olivia Head News and Announcements Upcoming Events
A Message from the Director
by: Dr. David Crass, david.crass@dnr.ga.gov Division Director & Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Recently federal agencies have been tasked with a major regulatory overhaul. Unfortunately, responses to posted rule revisions can have rigorous deadlines that are contrary to the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officer's need to carefully vet any formal response through appropriate channels. Our board determined that there will be times when we need to express a preliminary general position on behalf of the membership, a basic set of principles, with a more thoughtful response to follow, specific to the proposed revision (if time allows). The NCSHPO Board of Directors recently adopted the principles, which you can read below. The principles align with HPD's own policies and procedures, and really boil down to three main points: SHPOs are committed to a flexible Section 106 review process that acknowledges the partnership between federal, state, local, and tribal authorities; we recommit to the national 30-day review window, and we advocate for investments in digital infrastructure to make our business processes more efficient and transparent.
NCSHPO Principles
Last week in the "Real Estate Notes" pages of the Atlanta Business Chronicle there was a story about the impact of Atlanta's tech sector on office rents. Our office market grew by almost 18 percent last year, trailing only Orange County and Nashville. It turns out that the tech sector is a big driver of those increases; in addition to an annual employment growth rate of 6 percent (3 times the national average), it generates 19 percent of the leasing activity for office space. Why, you might ask, is a historic preservation guy interested in office rentals? It's simple. The tech sector wants "creative office space." That means space like Ponce City Market, old industrial warehouses, and Sibley Mill over in Augusta. All of these are either past, current, or potential tax incentive projects. The money line in the article comes from an executive with CBRE, a real estate services company: "The truly non-traditional office space like Ponce City market is very difficult to recreate". That, in a nutshell, is a big piece of what HPD is all about: partnering with the private business sector as well as individual homeowners to leverage historic properties and turn them into unique places where people want to work, live, and recreate.
Finally, the second cohort of the DNR Leadership Academy graduated last month at Smithgall Cottage. We had twenty students this year, which makes a total of 38 managers that have gone through the program in the last two years. A highlight of the final session was a panel discussion on leadership in public agencies involving Lonice Barrett and Homer Bryson. I want to take this opportunity to thank DNR Board member, Nancy Addison for attending the graduation ceremony; it really made it a special day for the students. Congratulations to the new graduates!
DNR Leadership Academy Graduates
Players in the Section 106 Process: The Applicant and Local Government
by: Jennifer Dixon, jennifer.dixon@dnr.ga.gov Environmental Review and Preservation Planning Program Manager
As discussed in recent newsletter articles (April 2016 and June 2016), Section 106 requires federal agencies, or their delegates, to take into account the effects their undertakings have on historic properties that are eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is a four-step process that involves identification, evaluation, assessment of effects, and resolution of adverse effects, if any. What many people may not know is the breadth of parties that can, and should, be involved in the Section 106 process. Certain parties are entitled to participate, while others may be involved, but are not a required consulting party. As such, we'll focus our Environmental Review Program upcoming articles on one or more of these parties, to explain each's role in the Section 106 process. Our last article (June 2017) focused on the two required players the Federal Agency and the State Historic Preservation Office (Historic Preservation Division). The next couple players could be YOU! The third key player is the Applicant the applicant is the non-federal entity that is receiving federal assistance or a license/permit. As an example, an applicant can be a developer, corporation, state agency, or property owner. Sometimes the federal agency will delegate all or part of the Section 106 process to the applicant. As the agency, they should make sure that all consulting parties know who the applicant is and what role the applicant will play in the process in regards to delegation of the process. This delegation is why it is very important for the applicant to work closely with their federal agency contacts in order to successfully complete the Section 106 process. Sometimes the local federal agency representatives may need help in completing the process as well, and will reach out to the larger agency officials, or to our office. As the applicant, it is important to have an understanding of your role in the process, what the federal agency expects of you, and what is required of the process. The applicant may have an important role by initiating Section 106 consultation, completing or having archaeological or structural surveys completed, and many other steps in the process. You are also welcome to reach out to our office for help in completing the process. However, keep in mind that the federal agency is ultimately responsible for Section 106 compliance. A fourth participant is the Local Government Officials these entities would be the local municipality that has jurisdiction over the area where the project is taking place. Examples of local government officials include the county or city and can sometimes include their deputies or a planning director. If the municipality has a historic preservation planner or is a Certified Local Government, involvement by these people/groups can help the Section 106 process go more smoothly. Keep in mind that local laws may intersect with Section 106 and other federal laws, such as NEPA, but would be handled locally and not involve the Section 106 players. In states such as Georgia, where at least 20 Federally-recognized Indian Tribes have ancestral homelands, representatives from the tribes are entitled to consult on a project that may have an effect on historic properties of religious or cultural significance to their tribe as it goes through the Section 106 process. With the rich Native American history in Georgia, these types of historic properties could be anywhere and tribes possess special expertise in identifying and assessing such properties. The federal agency is required to conduct government-to-government consultation with the federally recognized tribes, but the applicant can engage the tribes and be part of the consultation process, if the tribes agree. Stay tuned for a follow-up article regarding the last two required players in the Section 106 process... Adapted from: Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Applicant Toolkit http://www.achp.gov/apptoolkit.html
Staff Profile: Olivia Head
By: Olivia Head, olivia.head@dnr.ga.gov National Register Specialist
Olivia joined the Historic Preservation Division in September 2017 as the National Register Specialist. In this position, she serves as the primary contact for National Register program-related information and assistance, provides administrative support for the National Register program, assists in determining National Register eligibility, and reviews and prepares National Register nominations and historic contexts. After three years in Washington, D.C. working for the federal government and in other government-related positions, Olivia pursued and received a Master of Historic Preservation degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she worked as a graduate assistant with the Archway Partnership, serving as a higher education resource in historic preservation to several Georgia communities. Olivia also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Archaeology from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.
How did you become involved in historic preservation? My interest in historic preservation was sparked (unbeknownst to me at the time) during my years as a camper and counselor at Camp Merrie-Woode in Sapphire, North Carolina. Founded in 1919, Merrie-Woode is a camp for girls, whose picturesque landscape is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and dotted with historic Adirondack-style cabins and buildings. There was always something magical about walking the same camp paths, hiking the same mountains, sleeping in the same half-open cabins, and participating in the same traditions as Dammie Day, owner of the camp from 1922 to 1951, and so many other legendary figures from the camp's history. That desire for a connection to the past stuck with me, and when I discovered while initially looking into archaeology graduate programs that I could channel my love for historic cultural landscapes, architecture, and people's stories into one degree and career, that was it! I even ended up writing my overly-long thesis about the camp that inspired my leap into the field of historic preservation.
What do you like most about your job? This job is never boring. There is so much variety week to week and even within a single day. From reviewing preliminary eligibility applications to preparing a massive mail out for an upcoming National Register Review Board meeting to responding to constituent inquiries, the list goes on and on, and I am constantly learning something new and gaining great experience. One of my favorite surprises about this job has been the process of conducting research for what initially seem like simple inquiries. These inquiries often end up sending me down a rabbit hole in our files and providing me with pieces of information I never knew I needed.
What are your hobbies outside of the office? Outside of the office my life often revolves around my dog Bear, so some of my favorite hobbies are activities I can do with him hiking, exploring new parks and trails, and going to the lake. Additionally, I enjoy skiing, discovering new parts of the city with friends, and road trips. I also have a weird fascination with all things pop culture this ranges from reading movie reviews and TV recaps to listening to podcasts about the history of classic Hollywood and its stars. I have far too often been that girl in a conversation who knows everything about a TV show having never watched it.
News and Announcements
The 2018 Historic Preservation Fund Grants for Certified Local Governments are now available! CLGs are eligible to apply for survey, planning, predevelopment, or development grants. Applications are due February 1, 2018. More information and application packages can be found here. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is now accepting letters of intent for the African-American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This grant program awards $50,000 to $150,000 for preservation related projects. More information can be found here.Letters of intent are due January 31, 2018.
Upcoming Events
February 23, 2018- Georgia Review Board Meeting The next Georgia Review Board meeting will be held on February 23, 2018 at the Georgia Historic Preservation Division. For more information, visit here.
Would you like to see an event listed? Email allison.asbrock@dnr.ga.gov
Want to Contribute?
Submit a Guest Article Preservation Posts is published to inform the public about historic preservation issues and developments from the perspective of the SHPO. In keeping with that purpose, HPD occasionally solicits guest articles that are directly related to our statutorily mandated programs. Please note that we do not publish opinion pieces. We also retain editorial control as well as the right to reject any submission. To pitch or submit a piece, or ask questions concerning an idea, email HPD's Outreach Program Manager, Allison Asbrock, at allison.asbrock@dnr.ga.gov.
TITLE IMAGE: Healey Building in Atlanta, Georgia
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