Piqua Recognized for Historic Preservation Efforts
Joins Tipp City as the only two communities in Miami County as Certified Local Governments.
Earlier this week, the City of Piqua was designated as a Certified Local Government by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and National Park System, further cementing city’s reputation as a leader in historic preservation. The City joins Tipp City and 77 other communities throughout the state as a Certified Local Government.
A Community Celebrates
The City announced this development through a press release that provided statements from various officials.
“Becoming a Certified Local Government allows the City of Piqua to have additional funding and technical assistance available to the historic preservation efforts of the community,” City of Piqua’s Community Services Director Kyle Hinkelman said. “This designation will support the City’s active efforts to protect, redevelop and enhance our historic downtown character.”
As part of the CLG process, the City of Piqua created a City Historic Review Commission (CHRC), which reviews applications regarding the appropriateness of modifications to the Piqua Historic District as well as designates buildings as local landmarks.
“The goal of having the designation of City of Piqua as a CLG is to provide additional opportunities for developers to restore buildings in downtown Piqua,” said Piqua City Manager Paul Oberdorfer. “We are hopeful to see projects utilize State Historic Tax Credits and other financial tools to protect and revitalize our beautiful historic structures.”
Megan J. Brown, acting CLG coordinator and chief state, tribal, local plans and grants for U.S. Department of the Interior, issued the letter on September 23 confirming Piqua’s certification in the program under the National Historic Preservation Act.
“We welcome the City of Piqua as a local partner in the Federal Preservation Program and look forward to working with them to preserve what makes their community special and significant.”
What is the Certified Local Government Program?
The Certified Local Government (CLG) program offers communities a powerful tool to preserve their historic heritage while fostering economic development. This program provides numerous benefits to participating communities and follows a structured process for certification and maintenance.
Certified Local Governments gain access to several advantages through the program. One of the most significant benefits is financial support, as CLGs become eligible for matching grants from a dedicated fund. Approximately $98,000 is available annually to Ohio CLGs for various preservation activities. These funds can be used for resource identification, allowing communities to conduct surveys to identify their historic, architectural, and archaeological assets. CLGs can also nominate eligible properties and districts to the National Register of Historic Places, further recognizing and protecting their historic resources.
Education and outreach are key components of the CLG program, with funds available to promote community education on historic preservation. Additionally, grants can support preservation and rehabilitation projects for historic properties. Beyond financial assistance, CLGs receive ongoing materials and guidance from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, ensuring access to professional preservation expertise. Certified communities are also invited to regular and special functions of the Historic Preservation Office, facilitating valuable networking opportunities and knowledge sharing among preservation professionals.
Becoming (and Staying) a Certified Local Government
To become a Certified Local Government, communities must meet specific requirements and follow a detailed certification process. Eligibility extends to cities, villages, and other political jurisdictions capable of enacting historic preservation ordinances. Program requirements include establishing a historic preservation commission, implementing a system for surveying historic properties, enforcing state and local preservation laws, and ensuring public participation in the preservation program.
The certification process begins with obtaining the CLG Guidelines, Checklist, and Certification Application from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. Communities then complete a preliminary assessment by submitting the Checklist for initial evaluation. The full application submission includes all required materials, such as resumes of preservation commission members, copies of local historic preservation legislation, and the completed CLG Checklist.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Office reviews the application and may request additional information as needed. An agreement outlining responsibilities must be signed by the community's chief elected official. If the application is deemed adequate, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office recommends approval to the National Park Service for final certification.
Maintaining certification is an ongoing process for CLGs. Communities must continue to meet program standards and expectations, with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office monitoring local historic preservation programs through regular evaluations. These evaluations typically occur after the first year of certification and every four years thereafter. If issues are identified during these assessments, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office suggests improvements to help communities meet program standards.
It's important to note that participation in the CLG program is voluntary, and communities can request decertification at any time. While the Ohio Historic Preservation Office may request decertification for communities that consistently fail to meet program standards, this is rare due to the guidance and support provided throughout the process.
The Certified Local Government program offers Ohio communities a valuable opportunity to preserve their historic resources while accessing financial and technical support. By becoming a CLG, communities demonstrate their commitment to historic preservation and gain tools to enhance their cultural heritage. The certification process, while thorough, is designed to ensure that participating communities have the necessary structures and expertise in place to effectively manage their preservation efforts.
For communities interested in joining the CLG program, the Ohio Historic Preservation Office stands ready to provide guidance and support throughout the application process and beyond. By leveraging the resources and expertise available through this program, Ohio's communities can protect their unique historical character while promoting economic development and community pride.
The CLG program represents a partnership between local, state, and federal governments to promote historic preservation at the grassroots level. It empowers communities to take an active role in identifying, protecting, and celebrating their historic resources. Through this collaborative effort, Ohio's rich architectural and cultural heritage can be preserved for future generations while contributing to the vitality and economic well-being of its communities.
Will Troy remain an outlier?
With this announcement from Piqua, Troy is now the only city in Miami County (other than Huber Heights, a community that isn’t even fifty years old) that does not have Certified Local Government status.
Can residents expect that to change? Probably not.
In order to receive the certification, one of the actions Piqua needed to create a City Historic Review Commission that has the responsibility for reviewing and approving applications for improvements to properties in historic districts. And the city went to significant efforts to find neighborhood representatives, historic preservationists and architects to sit on this commission.
While Troy’s Planning Commission holds responsibility for reviewing and approving applications for properties within the historic district, there are no guidelines that require seats on the Planning Commission to be held by individuals that are historic preservationists, architects, or even residents of the historic district.
That appears to be one of the biggest hurdles keeping Troy from being a Certified Local Government. There have been a number of issues brought forward about the current makeup of the City’s Planning Commission, but there has been little leadership on trying to make the body more responsive to the needs of the downtown historic district, or even the community at large. What makes us think that is going to change anytime soon?
What Do You Think?
Should the community look into the Certified Local Government program? Should the city look into reforming the City’s Planning Commission? Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment thread.
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It's the same old, same old. When the Architectural Board of Review was created in the 1980s, we were given no guidelines. Maury Wyckoff, myself, and others were on that board that had no teeth. Applicants followed the rule that it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Not surprisingly, the board dissolved within a couple of years.
How ironic that the most beautiful downtown in the county does not have a preservation board.
One might argue that our downtown is so great-looking that a board is not needed. But then again, we have the saga of the IOOF building.