Title:  Preservation Shore to Shore: Michigan's Comprehensive Historic Plan

Michigan Preservation Plan

Number of Pages: 53
Approval Date: October 15, 2001
Planning Cycle: 5 years

Contact Information:
     Amy Arnold
     Historic Preservation Planner
     State Historic Preservation Office
     Michigan Historical Center
     702 W. Kalamazoo Street
     Box 30740
     Lansing, Michigan 48909-8240
     (517) 335-2729; fax (517) 335-0348
     E-mail: ArnoldA@michigan.gov
     Web site: www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_shpo_preservation-shore-to-shore_51222_7.pdf

Mission/Vision Statement:
To protect Michigan's historic resources and integrate them into the future of the state.

Table of Contents:
     Executive summary
     Methodology
     Introduction
     Preservation Accomplishments in Michigan, 1996-2000
     Michigan's Historic Resources
     Opportunities and Challenges for Michigan's Historic Resources
     Michigan's Historic Preservation Goals and Objectives, 2001-2006
     References
     Appendix A: The Michigan Historical Center
     Appendix B: Selected Historic Preservation Internet Resources
     Appendix C: The U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
        Rehabilitation

PLAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
Public Participation Strategies:

• Questionnaire surveys of public and professional opinion;
• Planning workshop held for preservation professionals and advocates;
• Draft of comprehensive plan reviewed by representative groups of survey participants and other interested parties.

• SHPO compiled and organized comments obtained from written surveys, and compiled information on social trends from economic and task force reports, planning studies, newspapers and newsletters.

HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Buildings, structures, sites, objects, features, or open space significant in history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture; modern architecture; landscape architecture; agricultural properties; historic and prehistoric archaeological sites; industrial properties; historic and traditional cultural landscapes; inner-city neighborhoods; small town districts; schools; bridges; dams; maritime resources (shipwrecks, breakwaters, lighthouses, Coast Guard stations); military bases; Depression-Era and Post-World War II resources; recreation and tourism resources.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Majority of counties have not been completely surveyed for historic buildings and structures;
• Archaeological survey has covered only 4% of the state;
• Urban sprawl threatens rural historic resources, about which the least is known;
• Great development pressures in rural counties;
• Little funding is available to conduct systematic surveys;
• Majority of survey information is out-dated and not fully evaluated and analyzed;
• Need innovative strategies for conducting surveys, such as Land Information Access Association programs, the Michigan Barn Preservation Network, and partnerships with regional planning agencies;
• Accessibility of survey information is limited;
• Development of statewide historic contexts is needed to encourage and support National Register nomination efforts;
• Highly threatened resources include agricultural properties, former industrial sites ("brownfields"), archaeological sites, and historic schools;
• Under-documented resources include Depression Era and post World War II resources, historic landscapes, and resources connected to recreation/entertainment;
• New state historic preservation tax credit provides benefits to owners of non-income-producing properties;
• Need for sensitive reinvestment in historic center cities;
• State level support and incentives needed for local preservation efforts;
• Michigan communities are interested in participating in the national Main Street Program;
• Benefits of historic preservation to redevelopment projects are not fully realized;
• New state building code does not effectively address the needs of historic buildings;
• Lack of land use planning and degradation of urban centers are pressing issues affecting quality of life, as well as historic resources;
• Large number of nonprofit land trusts working to preserve open space;
• State farmland protection program is not effectively used;
• Potential opportunities in state legislation on smart growth and coordinated planning efforts;
• Increasing number of highway projects address needs of historic resources and community character;
• Aging inner ring suburbs and teardown/bigfoot syndrome adversely affect older neighborhoods;
• Strong need for historic preservation education.

1. Increase public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Michigan's historic resources and the benefits of their historic preservation.
2. Use historic preservation to promote community revitalization, economic development, and effective land use planning.
3. Protect Michigan's historic resources.
4. Identify and document Michigan's historic resources and their contents.
5. Achieve fuller funding for historic preservation.
6. Increase incentives for and remove barriers to the preservation of Michigan's historic resources.
7. Build alliances with diverse interest groups to promote historic preservation.

1. Increase knowledge of historic resources.
   • Promote historic preservation at the state level;
   • Increase awareness outside the field of historic preservation;
   • Promote successful preservation projects;
   • Increase historic preservation education.
2. Promote revitalization, economic development, and effective land use planning.
   • Conduct a statewide study of the economic and social benefits of historic preservation;
   • Integrate preservation into local and regional planning and economic development programs;
   • Make historic resource data more accessible;
   • Promote heritage tourism;
   • Institute a statewide Main Street program;
   • Increase partnerships to preserve farmland and green space, and direct development back to urban centers.
3. Protect resources.
   • Develop relationships with state and local agencies to ensure that historic resources are considered in project development and implementation;
   • Develop a state level stewardship organization;
   • Adopt a state building code for historic resources;
   • Advocate legislation to protect National Register or State Register listed resources;
   • Improve procedures to facilitate Section 106 review.
4. Identify and document resources and contexts.
   • Develop inter-organizational approach to systematic resource identification and documentation;
   • Increase survey activity, funding, and outreach to under-surveyed areas;
   • Improve collection of and access to historic and archaeological resource data;
   • Develop statewide historic contexts for significant themes;
   • Develop training workshops in survey techniques;
   • Increase survey and documentation of post-World War II resources.
5. Increase preservation funding.
   • Establish state level endowment fund;
   • Secure state funding and staff for SHPO;
   • Increase funding and staff for statewide nonprofit preservation organization;
   • Develop a statewide revolving fund;
   • Establish seed grants for local preservation projects;
   • Encourage charitable foundations to include preservation in their fundable activities;
   • Increase local financial incentives.
6. Increase incentives and remove barriers.
   • Establish tax abatements for preservation projects;
   • Train building officials and fire marshalls;
   • Empower historic district commissions to interpret codes;
   • Identify special interest groups that benefit or inhibit preservation;
   • Encourage adoption of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for the preservation of all resources.
   Build alliances with diverse groups.
   • Partner with planning, conservation, and land use organizations and agencies;
   • Encourage advocacy at state and local levels to educate elected officials;
   • Include students in preservation education efforts;
   • Develop supportive relationships with minority groups;
   • Strengthen communications among preservation groups;
   • Develop a closer relationship with the Michigan legislature;
   • Foster and support local historic preservation organizations.

FEATURES OF NOTE
"Preservation Accomplishments in Michigan" illustrate achievements of goals in previous plan.