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Resources: grants and award available for your historic project

Garavaglia Architecture, Inc., wanted to let you know that there are grant and award opportunities available that you may not be aware of:

Conservation Assessment Program (CAP)

The Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) is a program administered by Heritage Preservation, the National Institute for Conservation and provides a general conservation assessment of your museum’s collection, environmental conditions, and site. Conservation priorities are identified by professionals and the report can help your museum develop strategies for improved collections care and provide a tool for long-range planning and fund-raising.

The 2018 application is now available!

Save America’s Treasure’s Grants

The National Park Service has $5 million of Save America’s Treasures grants which provide preservation and/or conservation assistance to nationally significant historic properties and collections.

For more information visit the NPS awards website.

National Endowment for the Humanities Grant

The National Endowment for the Humanities recently announced a a new grant program to create and sustain humanities infrastructure. Grants aim to help institutions secure long-term support for their core activities and expand efforts to preserve and create access to outstanding humanities materials.Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit humanities entities.

Information about the 2018 grant is available here.

2018 California Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards

This award is for  individuals, projects, organizations, or agencies whose work exemplifies the best in historic preservation in California. Projects are for restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive use of historic buildings, structures, sites or cultural landscapes; or activities related to the identification, protection, and interpretation of historic and prehistoric resources.

Click here for the 2018 awards nomination form.

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A Tale of Two Mills Act Projects

Garavaglia Architecture (GA) Inc. recently worked with two historic property owners to complete historic structure reports for their Mills Act applications in San Francisco. The Mills Act is designed to restore and preserve historic buildings by giving tax reductions to private property owners for investing in these properties.

The Mills Act historic structure reports that our firm prepared for the Owners of 722 Steiner and 761 Post Street was a necessary part of their bid to receive tax credits for work done to maintain the historic integrity of the structures.  The property tax savings from the Mills Act contract enabled the Owners to preserve and rehabilitate their property, which would otherwise be in danger of demolition, deterioration or abandonment. We performed exterior conditions assessments, archival research, site visits and meetings with the San Francisco Planning Department for both projects.

Project Backgrounds

722 Steiner Street is a Queen Anne style house that’s an instantly recognizable part of San Francisco’s historical and architectural heritage. As one of the Seven Sisters of Alamo Square, this house has been shown in countless motion pictures and television commercials and is part of the famous Postcard Row. The condition of the house had deteriorated over several years, but fortunately was saved from demolition and cared for by conscientious stewards.

photo by Garavaglia Architecture

 

761 Post Street (The Hotel Maurice)  — one of the many hotels that were constructed in San Francisco as the city recovered from the devastating earthquake and fires of 1906. As young workers flooded the city looking for jobs they also needed inexpensive housing; which facilities such as the Maurice provided. During the 1970’s, as the city declined, the hotel did as well. During recent years due to increased tourism and investment, it has re-opened its doors. The hotel has enjoyed a renovation and rebirth as a Marriott Courtyard.

photo by Garavaglia Architecture

 

GA receives 3 Awards at California Preservation Foundation Ceremony

Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. was honored to receive three awards from the California Preservation Foundation in 2015. The awards represent different facets of our multi-dimensional practice which provides services to private and public clients across the state.

Marconi Conference Center Historic Structure Report, Marshall, CA

Our firm commissioned by California State Parks to evaluate the former Marconi Hotel, originally constructed in 1913. The HSR presents the historical context for the site, analyzes the building’s historic integrity and conditions, and establishes parameters for reuse of the building. Special attention was paid to the Synanon era, which spanned the period that this fringe religious group was in residence at the site, and how that might represent an additional period of significance.

Marconi Conference Center Historic Resource Evaluation
Marconi Conference Center - photo by William Porter

Palo Alto Rinconada Library Renovation, Palo Alto, CA

Our firm served as materials conservation and historic preservation consultants for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Edward Durell Stone modernist building, constructed in 1958. Our primary consultation role was advising the design team on appropriate conservation and preservation treatments; and our Core Historic Structures Report helped to guide the rehabilitation process. Acting as an independent entity, we determined the proposed project’s level of impact on the historic integrity of the Palo Alto Main Library and surrounding landscape.

Bourn Mansion, San Francisco, CA

Our firm provided architectural preservation services during an initial consultation with the City of San Francisco for this stately brick residence, located at 2550 Webster Street in San Francisco. The building is registered as San Francisco City Landmark #38 and is historically referred to as the Bourn Mansion, as it was built by William Bourn in 1896. A new owner sought to rehabilitate and upgrade the structure while maintaining its historic fabric. Our early guidance helped to guide the process in preserving this Pacific Heights gem.

GA and Group 4 Architecture - photo by California Preservation Foundation

These prestigious awards are given every fall by the California Preservation Foundation, a non-profit group which provides statewide leadership, advocacy and education to ensure the protection of California’s diverse cultural heritage and historic places. Garavaglia staff attended the awards banquet held in the iconic Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange Building in downtown San Francisco for an elegant evening of celebration. Principal Michael Garavaglia was on hand to accept the awards for our firm.