Leland:
Here is a cut and paste of the recent discussion on the Sec of Int Standards.
I hope there is something that can help you with your question on affordable
housing in there somewhere.
Mary Krugman
__________________
Subj: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/8/98 9:55:21 AM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (John Stahl)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
Dear wonderous all knowing PINHEADs,
I have a question that needs answering since the dawn of creation:
Does anyone know who ( or what organization ) is responsible for
promoting
and upholding the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
at the national level?
Are these Standards a requirement or merely a suggestion?
I know many institutions and individuals who promote the Standards, but who is
responsible for seeing that these Standards are followed on national landmark
projects?
I will be able to sleep better at night knowing the answer.
Sincerely,
Desparately Seeking Preservation
----------------
Subj: Re: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/8/98 10:47:18 AM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (MDK10)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
In a message dated 1/8/98 9:55:21 AM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
> Does anyone know who ( or what organization ) is responsible for
> promoting
> and upholding the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic
> Buildings
> at the national level?
The National Park Service oversees the Secretary's Standards, publishes
technical assistance and informational materials and offers guidance. You can
contact them at (202) 208-4747 (Wash. DC) or contact Kay Weeks, NPS Technical
Preservation Services (202) 343 9593, who could direct you to the right
person, should you have a particular question.
As far as the "enforcement" of the Guidelines, this is the generally the
bailiwick of the state historic preservation offices but only on certain kinds
of projects-- historic tax credit projects, CDBG grants, etc. The Guidelines
are also required under other kinds of activities like NJ Historic Trust's HP
Bond fund grants, preservation easements, etc., and compliance is also often
required under local preservation ordinances.
Other BP folks may have more information for you. Does this help?
Mary Krugman
------------------------------
Subj: Re: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/9/98 1:21:50 AM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (Preferred Customer)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
To Mary Krugman's response to John Stahl I would only add that a
major area of regulatory use of the Standards and Guidelines is
in federal undertakings. All federally permitted or funded projects which
have effects on historic structures would follow the Secretary of Interior's
Standards and Guidelines in negotiating the treatment of specific
properties affected by the undertaking. Undertakings are as diverse as
HUD projects in urban or rural settings, Federal Aid to States for
Highways, National Park concessions and administrative buildings or
Bureau of Indian Affairs funded schools on Indian Lands. Any federal
involvement can be the nexus to invoke following the Standards and
Guidelines, making them an important tool for preservation activists. If you
can find a federal involvement in the project then the Standards and
Guidelines should be followed as a responsibility of the federal official
responsible for funding or permitting the project in the treatment of any
historic properties involved- by Federal Law, namely the National Historic
Preservation Act. Hope this helps.
Mark Henderson
Ely, Nevada
-----------------
Subj: Re: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/9/98 7:21:43 AM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (MDK10)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
In a message dated 1/9/98 1:21:50 AM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
> All federally permitted or funded projects which
> have effects on historic structures would follow the Secretary of
Interior's
> Standards and Guidelines in negotiating the treatment of specific
> properties affected by the undertaking.
Although one would hope that the Standards and NHPA would protect historic
properties affected by federal undertakings, all too often the result is "D&D
preservation" -- document and destroy. Memorandums of agreement, in my
experience, are notoriously uncreative when it comes to mitigation and
sensitive treatment of historic resources.
Mary Krugman
-------------
Subj: Secretary of Interior's Standards Reply-reply
Date: 1/9/98 12:28:23 PM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (John Stahl)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
Many thanks for the info. Mark Henderson This is quite helpful.
How is it possible that the U.S. Department of Interior is being allowed to
replace all 5000 or so wood windows in their building in DC with new?
The US Dept. of the Interior are the folks who have brought us " The Secretary
of the Interior's Standards for Preserving Buildings " Under the Standards
Item #2 states: "The historic character of a property will be retained and
preserved. The replacement of intact or repairable historic materials… will be
avoided"
The replacement of windows in this landmark structure creates the
biggest
mockery to those individuals and institutions who fight for the conservation
of America's buildings. I can think of no greater slap in the face than the
US Dept. of Interior's lack of respect for their own standards.
The acceptance of this approach to building "upgrading" will cost the
American tax payer significantly more than the repair and thermal upgrading
of the existing windows. This replacement approach gives the window
replacement business more ammunition in the fighting the conservation of
historic buildings.
This is a plea to you and your associates to do what ever you can to
save
these "repairable" windows and set a new standard for preservation.
In this new year let's hope for a greater understanding of the value
of
retaining a building's architectural integrity into the next century.
Sincerely,
John H. Stahl
PS. I am still unclear as to who the decision makers are in Washington
that
allow this. Any information would be appreciated.
For further information :
http://www.facilitiesnet.com/NS/NS2b7bc.html.
PSS: Project is approximately 50% completed. Congress has put the
remaining project on hold pending funding.
------------------
Subj: Re: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/9/98 3:42:24 PM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (Dan Becker)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
>In a message dated 1/9/98 1:21:50 AM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>> All federally permitted or funded projects which
>> have effects on historic structures would follow the Secretary of
>Interior's
>> Standards and Guidelines in negotiating the treatment of specific
>> properties affected by the undertaking.
>
>Although one would hope that the Standards and NHPA would protect historic
>properties affected by federal undertakings, all too often the result is "D&D
>preservation" -- document and destroy. Memorandums of agreement, in my
>experience, are notoriously uncreative when it comes to mitigation and
>sensitive treatment of historic resources.
>
>Mary Krugman
Yep, I call it "gumming them to death." The whole process is set up to
worry the hell out of them until they give you a crumb with which to sop up
what's left in the bottom of the bowl in order that they may maintain some
semblance of their project schedule. The latter is why you get the
crumb...to make you stop so they can move on.
__________________________________________
Dan Becker
Executive Director, Raleigh Historic Districts Commission
[log in to unmask]
-------------------
Subj: Re: Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Buildings
Date: 1/9/98 4:41:05 PM EST
From: [log in to unmask] (MDK10)
Sender: [log in to unmask]
In a message dated 1/9/98 3:42:24 PM EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
> The whole process is set up to
> worry the hell out of them until they give you a crumb with which to sop up
> what's left in the bottom of the bowl in order that they may maintain some
> semblance of their project schedule.
Not only do you get a crumb at the end, but you have to fight like crazy to
even get a place at the table, in spite of all the reverent talk of
"consultation." And once they have SAID they will give you a crumb,
sometimes, when all is said and done, the crumb has been forgotten, all is
lost, and there is little remedy.
MKrugman
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