2014 Historic Preservation Grant Awards to Communities Announced by North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

    Raleigh, N.C. – All across North Carolina plans to build stronger communities will be enhanced by $93,000 in federal grant support for awards announced by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Seven historic preservation projects range from a city-wide architectural survey and a neighborhood nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, to a Wooden Window Repair and Efficiency Workshop.

    "North Carolina's rich and varied architectural history is found throughout the state," Governor McCrory said. "These grants will allow us to preserve it. These needed updates and restorations will ensure the beauty of our state for future generations as well as provide a boost for local economies."

    Each year, federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants are awarded by the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) through the National Park Service's Certified Local Government Program (CLG). This partnership between local, state, and national governments focuses on promoting historic preservation at the grassroots level.

    "We are honored to participate in this highly effective program," said Susan Kluttz, Secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources. "Partnering with local governments to encourage preservation of local historic properties keeps communities thriving economically while maintaining ties to their pasts."

    The Historic Preservation Fund is a federal matching grant program administered jointly by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and the state Historic Preservation Office. Late each fall, the HPO announces the availability of competitive HPF grants to the 47 local governments in North Carolina that are designated as CLGs by the National Park Service. These local governments have demonstrated a solid commitment to historic preservation which includes establishing a historic preservation commission, enforcing state and local legislation to designate and protect local and historic properties, providing for public participation in the process, and other factors. Additional CLG program information is available at http://www.hpo.ncdcr.gov/clg.htm.

    Beaufort County
    Grantee: City of Washington
    Project: Survey Update for Washington Historic District

    The City of Washington will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $11,000 to conduct a survey update for the Washington Historic District, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The district includes commercial and residential portions of the city. The grant funds will allow the city to hire a consultant who will evaluate the status and integrity of all buildings within the historic district and complete a photographic and written record of the surveyed properties. The City of Washington will provide $4,000 in matching funds for the project.

    Local contact: Jennifer Brenan, Community Development Planner, City of Washington.
    Telephone: (252) 946-0897; email: jbrennan@washington.gov.

    Buncombe County
    Grantee: Town of Black Mountain
    Project: Wooden Window Repair and Energy Efficiency Workshop

    The Town of Black Mountain will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $1,000 to host a workshop for homeowners, historic preservation commission members and contractors. The Town will provide a match of $200 for the project.

    It is a common belief that wooden windows cannot be energy efficient. Properly repaired wooden windows can be as energy efficient as replacement windows, and last longer than the 10 to 20 year life span of replacements. A specialist in wooden window repair and restoration will address the benefits of repairing existing windows and demonstrate restoration methods and tools. The workshop also will cover the energy efficiency of traditional building materials and how to apply sustainability principals to historic buildings and comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

    Local contact: Jennifer Tipton, Zoning Administrator, Town of Black Mountain
    Telephone: (828) 419-9373; email: jennifer.tipton@townofblackmountain.org.

    Catawba County
    Grantee: City of Hickory
    Project: Hickory Architectural Survey Update

    The City of Hickory will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $15,000 to complete an architectural survey update. A match of $8,000 will be provided by the City.

    As many of the Hickory's historic resources have not been surveyed, the grant will assist the documentation of 100 to 125 non-residential buildings and 15 to 20 post-World War II subdivisions. The project will also update approximately 200 existing records for properties outside National Register historic districts. The City hopes the survey update will lead to identification and historic designation of traditionally under-represented populations.

    Local contact: David Leonetti, Community Development Manager, City of Hickory
    Telephone: (828) 261-2227; email: dleonetti@hickorync.gov .

    Craven County
    Grantee: City of New Bern
    Project: Dryborough Architectural Survey and National Register Nomination

    The City of New Bern will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $11,000 to undertake an architectural survey and subsequent nomination of the Dryborough neighborhood to the National Register of Historic Places. The City will provide $4,000 in matching funds for the project.

    Founded in 1808 by North Carolina Governor Benjamin Smith, Dryborough was later annexed by New Bern and became the city's first primarily African-American neighborhood. The area has served as a social and cultural center for the African-American community of New Bern for more than 200 years and has produced many successful business leaders, politicians, educators and entrepreneurs. Dryborough's successful nomination to the National Register of Historic places will bring much deserved recognition to this important part of New Bern.

    Local contact: Kevin Robinson, City Planner, City of New Bern
    Telephone: (252) 636-2146; email: robinsonk@newbern-nc.org.

    Mecklenburg County
    Grantee: City of Charlotte
    Project: Charlotte Comprehensive Historic Resource Survey – Phase II

    The City of Charlotte will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $24,000 to hire a consultant to conduct the second phase of a comprehensive historic resource survey of the city. The survey will be used as a planning tool to update, verify, and identify historic resources within Charlotte, which will provide a match of $30,000 for the project.

    The last architectural survey conducted by Charlotte in the mid-1980s was not comprehensive so many historic resources lack protection or even identification. A comprehensive survey will allow planners and decision makers to consider the effect of development proposals on historic resources. Phase II will concentrate on the area outside of Charlotte's Route 4, beyond the central city.

    Local contact: John G. Howard, Planning Coordinator, Mecklenburg County Planning Department

    Telephone: (705) 336-5994; email: jghoward@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
    Orange County
    Grantee: Orange County
    Project: Orange County Survey Update and Phase I of Publication

    Orange County will receive federal Historic Preservation Fund grant of $15,000 to hire a consultant to conduct an architectural survey update of rural portions of Orange County. The County will provide a match of $10,000. This project is the first of three phases with the end goal being to produce a publication that documents the county's historic resources. Phase I will survey approximately 250 properties including mid-20th-century resources along with those associated with the county's agricultural and African-American history.

    Local contact: Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator, Orange County
    Telephone: (919) 245-22517; email: psandbeck@orangecountync.gov.

    Wake County
    Grantee: Wake County
    Project: Wake County Architectural Survey of Six Towns (Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Rolesville and Wendell)

    Wake County will receive a federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant of $16,000 to hire a consultant to complete an architectural survey of historic properties in the towns of Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Rolesville and Wendell. The County will provide matching funds of $9,000 to assist with the project.

    According to US Census Data, Wake County's population increased 43.5 percent between 2000 and 2010. With this high growth rate, historic properties are often lost to development pressures. The six towns were selected by the Wake County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office as limited documentation exists on their historic resources and all of the communities face increased development. Identifying and documenting historic resources will give the towns the information necessary for considering their heritage as they plan for growth.

    Local contact: Gary Roth, staff, Wake County Historical Preservation Commission
    Telephone: (919) 833-6404; email: groth@cappresinc.org.

    For additional information please call (919) 807-6582. The Historic Preservation Office is within the Office of Archives and History of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

  • Contact: Crystal Feldman
  •     govpress@nc.gov

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