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Historic Preservation Event
Topics: Historic Preservation, Pocatello, community, food, Old Town
Posted by lherzog Thu May 8, 2008 13:57:28 MDT
Viewed 92 times
0 responses 0 comments Start: May 22, 2008
Time: 4:00pm
Price: 5.00 Tour
Contact: Terri Neu | Neu, Terri [tneu@pocatello.us] | 208-234-6500

The Pocatello Historic Preservation Commission is having an event to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with an informative seminar on grants for façade improvements in the Downtown Historic District, an awards ceremony for local acts of Historic Preservation, and a Tour of the Whitman’s progress – an informative and inspirational meeting of minds to see what’s possible.  This event will be hosted Thursday May 22^nd at Pasta Vino starting at 4:00 p.m.  An awards ceremony for acts of historic preservation will start at 5:30 p.m. with a no host bar and hors d’ oeuvres.  A Tour of the Whitman’s progress will begin at 6:30 p.m. and return to Pasta Vino to socialize and reflect on Pocatello’s progress in historic preservation.  The tour of the Whitman is $5.00 per person, and the proceeds will be a matched donation going to the Chief Theater Mosaic Interpretive Signage.  The new bronze plaque will be on display at the event and will be installed at “The Chief” sidewalk mosaic on N. Main the week following the event.  All are welcome to join in the events, tickets are available for the Whitman Tour at the reception and awards ceremony, by calling 234-6500, or at the City Offices Planning and Development.

Great buildings link past with present and teach us about survival and hope.  Many have been lost due to the accidents of nature or war.  Some disappear because their original function ceased.  Until the 20^th Century few were lost because they had no obvious economic use – they have a continuing human significance and are not just commodities which are automatically disposable.  Their inherent green value is in their material, the energy that went into making and delivering the materials has already been expended, and can never again be reclaimed – especially if that material ends in a landfill never to be seen again.  Also consider the energy it takes to raze and haul away those materials, the time and money could be put to use in preservation, renovation, or rehabilitation.

 

Preservation is an activity of wider scope than just “preserving.”  Preservation does have that function, but keeping old buildings, as in a museum, and not as living and working parts of the community, is not the primary purpose of preservation.  Education, social and economic benefit are clearly identified as reasons for historic preservation.

Pocatello’s historic preservation is a wonderful goal that deserves the endorsement and support of all residents. Preservation-minded Pocatelloans have been talking about this moment for nearly 30 years.  But the commission wants the city residents to play a bigger role in downtown revitalization and in implementing the downtown master plan.  We plan to continue working on improvement projects, such as facades and streetscapes, and to work with Old Town to complete our mission. That is clearly the right path, to help our city capitalize on its best assets. Showcasing historic buildings and pedestrian-oriented streets is just part of the story.

"An inviting atmosphere, created through attractive window displays, parking areas, building improvements, street furniture, signs, sidewalks, street lights and landscaping, conveys a positive visual message about the commercial district and what it has to offer," according to the National Trust. "Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the physical appearance of the commercial district by rehabilitating historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, and long-term planning."

Much work has been done already, thanks to many, most notably Jerry Myers, who has helped to renovate and preserve many downtown buildings either with moral support or as an architect whose designs have helped move a project one step closer to completion.  And much more needs to be done.  Putting a shine on downtown Pocatello will be job one. Pick up the trash and litter. Clean the streets. Put a fresh coat of paint on building entrances. Work together.  May 3rd was the Opening Day of the 2008 Southeast Idaho Farmers Market & Community Wide Cleanup Day hopefully many of you attended the events that support our Historic Districts and beautify our city.

 

The theory that you come into an area and level it is now obsolete.  Tearing down and starting over again is not planning…starting over again is too exclusive of other values.  Razing an area presumes that what has always been there lacks value.

We would like to promote the use of recycled architectural elements, sustainable designs, in conjunction with renewable resources, and help communities realize the value of these assets through education.  The characterization posited by architectural critic Ada Louise Huxtable is that “Preservation has changed from an amenity to an environmental necessity.”

The City of Pocatello is currently seeking to add members to its Historic Preservation Commission and would like to invite those people that live around Pocatello and have an interest in the renewal of the community through historic preservation to apply.  A copy of the application form can be obtained from the Mayor's Office at 911 North 7th Avenue, by visiting the Mayor/Council link at www.pocatello.us or by calling 234-6163.

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