Ohio Preservation Plan

Number of Pages: 81
Approval Date: April 6, 2004
Planning Cycle: 5 years

Contact Information:
     Glenn A. Harper, Manager
     Preservation Services, CLG Program
     Historic Preservation Division
     Ohio Historical Society
     567 E. Hudson Street
     Columbus, Ohio 43211-1030
     (614) 297-2470; fax (614) 297-2546
     E-mail: gharper@ohiohistory.org

Mission/Vision Statement:
The mission of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office is to preserve Ohio's historic resources as a living part of our heritage through effective management of the joint federal/state/local historic preservation program and to foster a preservation ethic in association with others.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Planning Process
   Preservation Planning in Your Community
Chapter 2: Mission and Goals
Chapter 3: Ohio's Historic Properties
Chapter 4: Ohio Trends
Chapter 5: How Historic Preservation Works
Chapter 6: Getting it Done: A Call for Action
Bibliography
Appendix 1: List of Individuals and Organizations Sent the
   Plan for Review
Appendix 2: Historic Preservation Partners
Appendix 3: Useful Websites

PLAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
Public Participation Strategies:

• Vision meeting included participants from a cross-section of preservation organizations, government agencies, cultural resource management and land-use planning officials, elected officials, and Certified Local Governments;
• Five public meetings generated broad-based public and professional involvement;
• Draft plan made available for public review on the SHPO web site, and was reviewed by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board;
• Second visioning meeting held to discuss implementation strategies.

• SHPO in-house planning committee used public and professional comments to develop goals, objectives, and suggested actions for six statewide preservation goals;
• Series of SHPO staff retreats.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Urban and suburban growth is encroaching upon 19th-century agricultural landscape;
• Resource survey is incomplete and geographic and thematic coverage of the state is uneven;
• Resources in critical need of attention include 20th-century neighborhoods, roadside architecture, historic schools, farmsteads and agricultural properties, industrial complexes, resources associated with minorities and ethnic groups, and Cold War military sites;
• Public opinion favors the preservation of historic buildings, which are viewed as community assets;
• Public concern about unplanned and unregulated growth and development, loss of farmland and open space, and decline in urban centers and neighborhoods;
• Transportation improvements and associated sprawl results in the loss of historic farmsteads, historic landscapes, archaeological sites, and natural areas;
• Challenge in effectively evaluating significance of 20th-century neighborhoods;
• Preservation of older housing stock provides potential solution to affordable and special needs housing;
• Aging and deteriorated industrial facilities ("brownfields") pose preservation and re-use challenges;
• Rising agricultural land values place pressure on farmers to sell land for development;
• Heritage tourism provides both an opportunity and a challenge for preservation, yet funding for tourism programs has not kept pace with increasing demand;
• Decline of neighborhood schools, many of which are historic and in need of alternative uses;
• State budget shortfalls jeopardize a fragile state commitment to preservation;
• Advances in computer technology facilitates access to preservation information;
• Growth and development of two statewide and several local and regional non-profit preservation organizations expands preservation outreach;
• Availability of financial incentives stimulates preservation projects;
• Increasing support for national heritage areas and corridors provides opportunities for preservation.

1. Increase public awareness and education to enable Ohioans to discover, understand and preserve their historic places.
2. Develop local commitment by encouraging public and private investment in local historic preservation initiatives.
3. Create a positive image for historic preservation by improving marketing efforts.
4. Identify, evaluate and protect historic resources.
5. Improve historic preservation leadership in Ohio.
6. Increase funding to identify, evaluate, preserve and protect Ohio's historic resources.

1. Increase public awareness.
   • Make resource information accessible for planning, advocacy, and educational programs;
   • Expand public information programs;
   • Create elemental and high school programs that demonstrate the importance of preservation;
   • Target educational efforts to specific groups;
   • Treat preservation education as life-long learning opportunities.
2. Develop local commitment.
   • Create organizations to address local preservation issues;
   • Focus attention on revitalization neighborhoods and commercial districts;
   • Include diverse economic and cultural groups in preservation programs;
   • Create partnerships to expand and support local preservation efforts;
   • Preserve rural landscapes and open space;
   • Integrate preservation into local government programs;
   • Expand local participation in CLG program;
   • Integrate preservation into all levels of planning.
3. Create a positive image.
   • Promote economic benefits of preservation;
   • Publicize preservation goals;
   • Link preservation to heritage tourism marketing.
4. Identify, evaluate, and protect resources.
   • Expand survey efforts to undocumented resources;
   • Develop strategies to protect local historic places;
   • Address concerns for vanishing landscapes;
   • Develop legislation and policies to support preservation efforts.
5. Improve preservation leadership.
   • Educate decision-makers;
   • Expand preservation networking;
   • Expand growth of statewide preservation organizations;
   • Provide training and technical assistance for local preservation leaders.
6. Increase funding.
   • Generate local funds for preservation projects;
   • Increase private sector funding;
   • Develop tax credits and other incentives;
   • Expand incentives for rehabilitation of owner-occupied historic properties;
   • Seek additional funding for enhanced preservation programs.

FEATURES OF NOTE
Includes chapter on "Getting it Done: A Call for Action on Ohio's Historic Preservation Goals," which provides suggestions for action needed on the national, state, and local levels for each goal.