Annual Picnic & Membership Meeting - Zoar Village
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
On Tuesday, August 28, our annual picnic will be held in historic Zoar Village. Zoar was settled by a group of German religious separatists and is considered to be the most successful communal society in the history of the United States. One notable aspect of Zoarite values was their belief in the equality of all human beings. Zoar continued as a utopian society until 1898, when it disbanded.
This event is open to current members of PTP and their guests.
For details and reservation information, click HERE.
Follow up to Mr. Hower's Neighborhood Tour, July 15
Thanks to all who turned out for a program and walking tour of Mr. Hower's Neighborhood on Sunday, July 15.
Mr. Hower was known as the "father of Akron industry."
It was certainly a warm day to be out and about! At least 50 people attended the program at nearby First Congregational Church and then came over to the 1871 Hower House Museum for a tour and refreshments.
This was a partnership between PTP and the Hower House Museum.
A day before the walking tour, Dr. Alice Christie was interviewed on WAKR radio. The link to that interview is HERE.
Thank You for Your Support!
HISTORIC TAX CREDITS REMAIN IN PLACE
The U. S. House and Senate have now passed comprehensive tax reform for the first time in more than 30 years. With these new regulations, Congress has once again concluded that it is critically important and of national concern to protect our nation’s historic buildings and the unique heritage that they represent.
Initially the historic tax credit provision was not included in any of the early versions of either bill. The House-Senate Conference Committee belatedly reached a deal that included the Senate language to restore a full 20 percent credit, but with a modified, extended five-year payout. Ohio Senator Rob Portman and 13 of 16 Ohio Congressional representatives supported the Senate language, crucial support that precipitated a tipping point in the move to keep the historic tax credits in place.
THANK YOU to all the members of Progress Through Preservation of Greater Akron and friends of the historic preservation movement who helped mobilize support to make sure the Federal Historic Tax Credit remained in the new tax code as a continued source of funding for the rehabilitation of our historic buildings.
We are immensely grateful to the individuals who took the time to petition our legislators, educate our neighbors, and in every way sound the call to keep the historic tax credit program in place. It is an essential tool that has provided the foundation for the financing of almost every significant adaptive reuse of a historic building in our community in the last 35 years.
The preservation community’s voice was heard, and the historic tax credit, first made permanent in the 1986 Federal Tax Code, will remain—with some adjustments, but sufficiently intact to maintain continued restoration of our treasured past. It is a wonderful accomplishment and affirmation of the power of preservation to protect our heritage, foster economic development, and create jobs that encourage community growth.
THANK YOU!
Dana Noel
President
PTP RESPONSE TO PROPOSED UA DEMOLITION
OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
As part of its long-range planning process, The University of Akron has submitted a request to the State of Ohio for funds to pay for capital projects. Included is a request to demolish several historic Akron buildings, the former St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Sunday School and Parish Hall on East Market Street and four buildings in the Quaker Square complex. The parish hall and Quaker Square buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As our community’s historic preservation advocacy organization, we are concerned about the fate of these historic and architecturally significant buildings. In response to the proposed demolition of these structures, PTP has presented a letter of concern to The University of Akron administration and met with a university representative.
PTP will continue to advocate for the preservation of Akron’s rich architectural heritage and dialogue with local stakeholders and community leaders, including The University of Akron and City of Akron. As part of that initiative, PTP invited representatives from the East Market Street area and other city leaders to a meeting on May 16, 2017, at the historic First Congregational Church in Akron. Discussion focused on the importance of re-purposing the historic former St. Paul’s Church buildings, formerly The University of Akron’s Ballet Center, and sharing information on how we can use the preservation of our historic structures as anchors for the continued redevelopment of this and other areas of Akron. For more information about this meeting, or to ask questions or share concerns, please contact Dana Noel, PTP president (330-322-6159 or dana@jerainc.com) or John F. Myers, Advocacy Committee chair (330-819-3695 or johnmyerscolpa@gmail.com).
Click HERE to read more about PTP’s position as printed in our January/February 2016 newsletter and PTP board member Bob Dill’s brief history of the church buildings. National Register of Historic Places original nominations for both sites may be accessed from the Akron-Summit County Public Library Special Collections Division website, listed alphabetically.