Author: ayanoh

2010 35th Annual CPF Conference

California Preservation Foundation is having their Annual Conference Preserving a Sense of Place in the Sierra Nevada this May. Garavaglia Architecture’s Principal, Mike Garavaglia will be speaking at the “Resource Stewardship for Non-Profit Organizations” workshop on preservation and stewardship of historic resources and necessary support. Our Preservation Services Manager, Becky Urbano, will be speaking at the “Working with Historic Material – A Case Study” workshop on practical hands-on techniques.

The tracks for this year’s conference include:

  • Sustainability
    Past is Prologue    : Preservation as a Sustainability Solution
  • Local Government
    Bringing It all Back Home    : Finding Preservation’s Place in Local Politics
  • Heritage Tourism
    Eureka!    : Discovering California Through Heritage Tourism
  • Economic Development
    “Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Hills:”     Melding Economic Development and Preservation
  • Local Character
    Mining the Past:     Local Character as Your Mother Lode

As in the past, the conference will also feature study tours, workshops, meetings and events. Awards presentations from the new Annual Youth Film Contest will also be presented during the Plenary Session. The Keynote address will feature Doug McConnell from Bay Area Backroads and Open Road with Doug McConnell.

Resource Stewardship for Non-Profit Organizations: Preparation, Planning and Partnering
May 12, 9:00a – 5:00p

Working with Historic Materials – A Case Study: A Primer for Building Owners, Stewards and Craftsman workshop at the same time
May 12, 9:00a – 5:00p

Preserving a Sense of Place The Sierra Nevada
2010 35th Annual California Preservation Conference
Grass Valley/Nevada City
May 12-15, 2010

For registration, visit the California Preservation Foundation registration page
http://californiapreservation.org/register_conference.shtml#navtop. Early bird rates end April 9th.

Recap on Partnership to Rehab Historic Buildings Workshop

On March 10, speakers and attendees from Northern California gathered together in Ione, CA for the “Make History – Public-Private Partnerships Rehabilitate Historic Properties” Workshop, presented by California Preservation Foundation.

On March 10, speakers and attendees from Northern California gathered together in Ione, CA for the “Make History – Public-Private Partnerships Rehabilitate Historic Properties” Workshop, presented by California Preservation Foundation.

Speakers included a variety of experts and presented different partnership and case studies. Presenters were Chris Fedukowski, finance expert and Principal of CFC; Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.’s Principal, Michael Garavaglia, a Preservation Architect; Said C. Kordestani, Partner in Farella Braun + Martel Tax Group; and local Bank of Amador President, Wayne Garibaldi. Local city representatives from Jackson and Ione also presented their challenges and successes on this topic. Ione’s own Preston Castle Foundation spoke on their on-going project.

Some tools and processes mentioned in this workshop included:

  • Facade programs
  • National Historic Trust Main Street Program
  • Community Development Block Grant Funds
  • Zoning Codes & Historic Districts
  • Heritage Tourism
  • Design  & Financing Process for Historic Preservation Tax Credits
  • Secretary of Interior Standards, and defining Rehabilitation
  • Historic Context and Significance
  • Historic Structure Reports

A good portion of the workshop concentrated on the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, a program administered by the US Department of Interior and the US Department of Treasury. Speakers went over the team members required, critical time periods, and the deal structures necessary for the at-times complex procedure.

Great case studies were presented by David Wilkinson, from Mercy Housing California, a non-profit housing developer; Darlene Mathis from the McCloud River Mercantile Co. & the Mercantile Hotel, and Andrea from Clark’s Corner in Ione. The three perspectives were all different: a professional developer with a social cause, a newly relocated family looking to create a new small town gem, and a highly active community member creating a gathering place for the people of the town, repsectively. However, all of them spurred further development in their areas and encouraging locals to stay in town for services.

For more information on resources for the historic preservation process or funding, please contact us and also visit our resources page.

Nation’s first mandatory state green building standards

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last month the adoption of the mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) by the California Building Standards Commission. It takes effect on January 1, 2011, and its intent is to create major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last month the adoption of the mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) by the California Building Standards Commission. It takes effect on January 1, 2011, and its intent is to create major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use. According to the press release:

CALGREEN will require that every new building constructed in California reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills and install low pollutant-emitting materials. It also requires separate water meters for nonresidential buildings’ indoor and outdoor water use, with a requirement for moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger landscape projects and mandatory inspections of energy systems (e.g., heat furnace, air conditioner and mechanical equipment) for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 3 million metric tons equivalent in 2020.

Upon passing state building inspection, California’s property owners will have the ability to label their facilities as CALGREEN compliant without using additional costly third-party certification programs.

In addition to the mandatory regulations, CALGREEN also includes more stringent voluntary provisions to encourage local communities to take further action to green their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve our natural resources.

Jennifer Caterino from the Architect’s Newspaper writes that “For now, the code only takes new construction into consideration, ignoring existing building stock.” In her article, she describes an industry thought that it will have to address the existing buildings, “if no other reason than to comply with Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Act.” There is an expectation to see some revision in the updated code in 2013, but how drastic the changes will be is hard to speculate, based on that this new mandatory code is not much variance from the earlier voluntary one.