June 2024

AB 2580 (Wicks) Unfairly Stigmatizes Historic Preservation – OPPOSE

Background: Read the Joint Opposition Letter | Download a Letter Template | Download an Email Template

What You Can Do:  

• Visit Action Network to Write Your Legislators and the Housing Committee: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ab-2580-unfairly-stigmatizes-historic-preservation-oppose?source=direct_link& 
• Oppose the Bill at the Housing Committee Hearing, June 18th, 2024 at 1:30 PM

Summary:

AB 2580 unfairly stigmatizes historic preservation and overlooks the cost-effectiveness of historic rehabilitation in providing and retaining affordable housing. The bill reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of existing preservation programs and, as admitted by its proponents, is the first step towards eroding protections for historic resources. Proponents have stated that “tackling the abuse of historic preservation rules requires several steps, and AB 2580 is a crucial initial measure.” AB 2580 fails to provide evidence of abuse, offers no incentives, and does not encourage housing, thereby wasting resources.

What will AB 2580 do: 

AB 2580 requires the housing element to analyze historic preservation practices and assess how historic designations impact local housing needs. It mandates the annual report to list all historic designations from the past year on the National Register, California Register, or local registers, along with the status of any housing projects proposed for these designations.

Why we oppose:

AB 2580 unfairly stigmatizes historic preservation and overlooks the cost-effectiveness of historic rehabilitation in providing and retaining affordable housing. The bill reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of existing preservation programs and, as admitted by the bill sponsor, is the first step towards eroding protections for historic resources. Proponents have stated that “tackling the abuse of historic preservation rules requires several steps, and AB 2580 is a crucial initial measure.” However, the bill fails to provide any evidence of abuse of historic rules, offers no incentives, and does nothing to encourage housing.

What can you do:

1. 1. Write to your legislator using our advocacy network: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ab-2580-unfairly-stigmatizes-historic-preservation-oppose?source=direct_link& 
   2. If you represent an organization, place the sample letter on your letterhead and send to your legislator. If you can, show up at the Senate Housing Committee hearing on June 18^th to express your opposition.
   3. Write to the Senate Housing Committee and Assembly member Buffy Wicks using our letter template.

   While we recognize the critical need for affordable housing and are committed to work with housing advocates to find solutions.  AB 2580 does not further this goal and instead poses a dangerous precedent. It risks undermining the preservation of our heritage, which has supported public safety, provided housing, and revitalized communities. This bill represents an extreme overreaction to a program that has brought immense benefits to California.

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Update on SB 9 (Atkins) and SB 10 (Wiener).  These housing bills are part of a suite of Senate Housing bills to address the shortage of housing in California.  SB 9 (Atkins) streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing lot in residential areas.  SB 10 (Wiener) allows cities to upzone areas close to transit, and existing urbanized areas to allow up to ten units without CEQA review. 

CPF worked with Senator Atkins’ staff and was successful in amending SB 9 to exempt historic resources from the bill.  If passed, a property owner could not split a lot under the ministerial provisions in the bill if the property met the definition of a historic resource as defined in Section 5020.1 of the Public Resources Code, or within a site that is designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance.

We met with Senator Wiener’s staff and the Senate Housing Committee staff to request adopting the same language in SB 10, exempting historic resources from the bill.  SB 10 is voluntary, establishing enabling legislation for jurisdictions that want to opt in.   Senator Weiner’s staff stated that local jurisdictions still had discretion in protecting historic resources as the bill only applies to rezoning and not individual project review.  According to Senator Wiener’s staff, individual projects are still subject to CEQA once a parcel has been rezoned under SB 10.

After reviewing the language of the SB 10 and learning about the number of parallel challenges from environmental organizations, we remain concerned about the impact of the bill on historic resources.  We held a second meeting with Senator Wiener’s staff on Tuesday 7/20/21 to request an amendment that explicitly exempts historic resources.  We will take a final position on the bill after they review our request.

On May 17th, legislation was introduced in the House that would make important changes to the Historic Tax Credit. The bipartisan Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO) closely resembles a combination of the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act and the Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act of the 115th Congress. The legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Darin LaHood (R-PA), Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Mike Kelly (R-PA). Senate introduction of similar legislation is expected within the next few weeks. HTC-GO brings more value to HTC transactions and encourages redevelopment of smaller, income-producing properties by:

• Eliminating the HTC Basis Adjustment requirement. Presently, the tax code requires that building owners subtract the amount of HTCs from a building’s basis (the amount a property is worth for tax purposes). In short, the federal government is giving an incentive and then taxing that incentive. Eliminating this requirement will bring more value to all HTC projects by increasing the basis of rehabilitated historic buildings for building owners, provide additional depreciation and other tax benefits, and attract more capital from tax credit investors.
• Increasing the credit from 20 to 30 percent for projects with rehabilitation expenses of less than $2.5 million;
• Encouraging more outside investment for smaller projects (under 2.5 million) by allowing the transfer of the credits as a tax certificate;
• Making it easier to meet the substantial rehabilitation test; and
• Creating greater flexibility for nonprofit organizations to partner with developers in redevelopment projects.

Please contact your House Representative and encourage them to Co-sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act. Click here to locate the name and phone number of your House Representative or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and asked to be connected to your or House Member’s DC office. Call (during office hours) the offices of your House Members and request to speak to their tax staff. Ask: “Please co-sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act, sponsored by Blumenauer/ LaHood in the House.” This alert was re-posted by the National Trust Community Investment Corporation on 5/21/2019.

Next Wednesday, April 24th, the California Senate Governance and Finance Committee will meet to discuss a variety of issues, including two bills that aim to address housing shortages throughout California. The bills, SB-4 and SB-50, both incentive housing development near transit rich areas, but offer limited protection for historic resources. Along with 10 other historic preservation organizations from across the state, the California Preservation Foundation sent letters to the authors of both bills, requesting additional language to ensure adherence with CEQA and the protection of historic structures. Action Requested Write to Senator Mike McGuire and Senator Scott Wiener asking them to adopt the language we sent them and protect historic places while promoting housing development.

• Letter to Senator McGuire
• Letter to Senator Wiener

Sample letter Dear Senator NAME, I am writing to extend my gratitude for the leadership and hard work you have undertaken to address the state’s housing crisis and to convey my support for legislation that would incentivize housing development near transit areas in a targeted manner yet protect historic structures. The authors of both SB 4 and SB 50 have stated their intent to adhere to the letter and spirit of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines. To that end, I respectfully request that the legislation be amended to protect structures placed on, or that have been identified by a public agency as eligible for, inclusion on a national, state, or local historic register in order to prevent the demolition of historic resources, which is no one’s intent with either bill. On April 15th, the California Preservation Foundation, along with 10 other preservation organizations from across California, sent you suggested language to incorporate into the bills in order to ensure consistency with CEQA and the protection of historic places. I kindly ask that you adopt this language to promote housing and protect historic structures. Thank you, YOUR NAME AFFILIATION Note: when sending the letter, you are encouraged to include examples of historic places in your community that could be threatened under this bill, and to consider sending a letter on your firm or organization’s letterhead, if applicable. Send a message to your Senator (if they are listed below) or to the Committee Chair. Click here to determine your District. Senator Mike McGuire, District 2 & Chair of the Governance & Finance Committee State Capitol 1303 10^th Street, Room 5061 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4002 senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov Click here to read the letter we sent Senator McGuire Senator Scott Wiener, District 11 State Capitol 1303 10^th Street, Room 5100 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4011 Email Senator Wiener Click here to read the letter we sent Senator Wiener The rest of the Committee members are listed below. If you live in their districts, please reach out to your Senator directly, Senator John M. W. Moorlach (Vice Chair), District 37 Senator Jim Beall, District 15 Senator Robert M. Hertzberg, District 18 Senator Melissa Hurtado, District 14 Senator Jim Nielsen, District 4 Originally posted 4/23/19 Updated 4/26/19 and 5/17/19

Update 5/17/19

SB 50, a bill that aimed to incentive housing development near transit rich areas but offered limited protection for historic resources, is on hold until 2020. In announcing the decision, Senator Anthony Portantino, California Senate Chair on Appropriations, noted that the bill was “a well-intentioned effort to help solve our state’s housing crisis” but legitimate concerns, including for historic preservation, justified the bill’s pause until next year. Senator Toni Atkins, Senate President Pro Tem, similarly noted that the while there is more work to be done on the bill, “there is no better leader on housing to do that work than Senator Wiener.”

In April, along with 10 other historic preservation organizations from across California, we sent a letter to Senator Wiener, the bill’s lead author, requesting protections for historic places be added to the bill. We will continue to advocate for these amendments in future versions of the bill and are grateful to each of our members that wrote to their Senator following the Advocacy Alerts we issued in April.

We thank Senator Portantino and Senator Atkins for their investment in historic preservation, and Senator Wiener for his continued efforts to address our state’s housing crisis. We look forward to continued productive dialogue with each of them.

Update 4/26/19

Earlier this month, we asked you to write to your Senators in support of letter we had sent, along with 10 other historic preservation organizations from across California, to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee regarding SB 50 and SB 4. In the letters, we commended the bills authors for their efforts to address the housing crisis, and provided language to ensure the protection of historic structures.

On Wednesday April 24^th, the committee reached a compromise that will merge the two bills, but they have not yet adopted the amended language we provided. The draft compromise agreement includes exemptions for structures designated on a historic register as of 2010, however we will only support the bill if it exempts all structures on a historic register.

While we have received indications that Senator Wiener, the bill’s lead author, is committed to working with us, we cannot take a position on the bill until it is finalized and we know exactly how it will impact historic properties. We need to examine the language of the amended bill to determine the larger implications the legislation may have on eligible and locally-designated historic resources and districts. We want to ensure that the revised bill will not impose a one-size-fits-all approach and unnecessarily harm California’s historic cities and neighborhoods.

We are optimistic that Senator Wiener will understand the importance of protecting historic sites, and need your help in making the case. If you have not yet done so, please contact Senator Wiener and let him know that housing and historic preservation can go hand in hand. Use examples from your community to help make the case, and refer to our sample letter below. We encourage our members to monitor the progress of this bill and to contact us if you have any questions about our position on SB 50.

Senator Scott Wiener, District 11
State Capitol
1303 10^th Street, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4011
Email Senator Wiener

Click here to read the letter we sent Senator Wiener
Click here to read the letter we sent Senator McGuire, Chair of the Governance and Finance Committee

Next Wednesday, April 24th, the California Senate Governance and Finance Committee will meet to discuss a variety of issues, including two bills that aim to address housing shortages throughout California. The bills, SB-4 and SB-50, both incentive housing development near transit rich areas, but offer limited protection for historic resources. Along with 10 other historic preservation organizations from across the state, the California Preservation Foundation sent letters to the authors of both bills, requesting additional language to ensure adherence with CEQA and the protection of historic structures.

Action Requested
Write to Senator Mike McGuire and Senator Scott Wiener asking them to adopt the language we sent them and protect historic places while promoting housing development.

• Letter to Senator McGuire
• Letter to Senator Wiener

Sample letter

Dear Senator NAME,

I am writing to extend my gratitude for the leadership and hard work you have undertaken to address the state’s housing crisis and to convey my support for legislation that would incentivize housing development near transit areas in a targeted manner yet protect historic structures. The authors of both SB 4 and SB 50 have stated their intent to adhere to the letter and spirit of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines. To that end, I respectfully request that the legislation be amended to protect structures placed on, or that have been identified by a public agency as eligible for, inclusion on a national, state, or local historic register in order to prevent the demolition of historic resources, which is no one’s intent with either bill.

On April 15th, the California Preservation Foundation, along with 10 other preservation organizations from across California, sent you suggested language to incorporate into the bills in order to ensure consistency with CEQA and the protection of historic places. I kindly ask that you adopt this language to promote housing and protect historic structures.

Thank you,

YOUR NAME
AFFILIATION

Note: when sending the letter, you are encouraged to include examples of historic places in your community that could be threatened under this bill, and to consider sending a letter on your firm or organization’s letterhead, if applicable.

Send a message to your Senator (if they are listed below) or to the Committee Chair. Click here to determine your District.

Senator Mike McGuire, District 2 & Chair of the Governance & Finance Committee
State Capitol
1303 10^th Street, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4002
senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov
Click here to read the letter we sent Senator McGuire

Senator Scott Wiener, District 11
State Capitol
1303 10^th Street, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4011
Email Senator Wiener
Click here to read the letter we sent Senator Wiener

The rest of the Committee members are listed below. If you live in their districts, please reach out to your Senator directly,
Senator John M. W. Moorlach (Vice Chair), District 37
Senator Jim Beall, District 15
Senator Robert M. Hertzberg, District 18
Senator Melissa Hurtado, District 14
Senator Jim Nielsen, District 4

Originally posted 4/23/19
Updated 4/26/19 and 5/17/19

Submit Comments Opposing Harmful Proposed Rule Changes to National Register of Historic Places

We are highly concerned with proposed revisions to the National Register of Historic Places. The proposed rule changes would substantially impact how historic resources are nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and determined eligible. While the stated intent is to bring regulations current with recent amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the proposed revisions clearly go far beyond that purpose and are inconsistent with the language in and intent of the NHPA.

The National Park Service is seeking public comment and we need your voice! Submit your comments in opposition to the proposed rule changes by April 30th.

Action Requested

1. Review a sample letter from our friends at Preservation Action and make it your own. Include local examples of how the proposed changes would impact preservation in your community.
2. Submit comments to the National Park Service before April 30, 2019.
3. Share with friends, family, coworkers.
4. Share on social media with hashtag #hpadvocacy.

Last week the Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee held a hearing on several important public lands bills including the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act (S. 3609, H.R 801). CPF has been working with the National Parks Service and partner organizations across the country to document and preserve the special places and stories of this historic highway.

The Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act would establish Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. Stretching across 8 states from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA, Route 66 would become the 34th National Historic Trail and one of the longest. The legislation passed the House in June. Several of the bills considered by the committee could be included as part of an end of the year public lands package, but we need your help to get Route 66 over the finish line.

The House’s unanimous passage of this bill in June and last week’s hearing are important steps, but time is running out—we need Congress to send the bill to the President’s desk by December 31, 2018!

Requested Action

Reach out to your Senators to support S. 3609, the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act! Click here to locate contact information for your Senator and send a message via the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Click the links below for additional information:
Legislative Update December 14 (Preservation Action)
Get Route 66 over the Finish Line! (National Trust for Historic Preservation)

Posted 12/17/2018 via Preservation Action and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Congress is starting the appropriations process which will determine Fiscal Year 2020 funding levels for historic preservation.The co-chairs of the Historic Preservation Caucus, Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), are leading the bipartisan FY20 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Dear Colleague Letter. The letter request $141 million in funding for the HPF, the same level Preservation Action advocated for during Advocacy Week. The request includes significant increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and increases to critically important competitive grant programs. The letter will be submitted to the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.This marks a strong commitment to the HPF and we can’t thank Representatives Blumenauer and Turner enough for their continued support and leadership of historic preservation.

Congress needs to hear from preservationists!

We are off to a strong start, but are still short of the number of signers on last year’s letter. To maximize the impact of the letter, we need as many Representatives to sign-on as possible. Urge your Representative to sign-on to the FY20 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague Letter today! Time is of the essence, the deadline for signatures is Thursday, March 28th at 5:00pm. ET. Members can sign-on by contacting Jon Bosworth in Rep. Blumenauer’s office or Jeffrey Wilson in Rep. Turner’s office.

Requested Action

If you have a personal contact in your member’s Washington D.C. or District/State office, contact that person directly. If they do not handle Interior Appropriations please ask that they pass the message along to the Interior Appropriations staffer. If not, click here to find your representative.

If you don’t have a personal contact you can call the representative’s DC office and ask to speak with the Interior Appropriations staffer or email your message through the “Contact” section of the member’s website. If you are emailing through the Member’s website please select “Environment” in the Message Subject drop-down menu.

Reach out and let them know who you are and why historic preservation is important to you. Ask your Representative to sign-on to the FY20 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague Letter, being circulated by Representatives Turner and Blumenauer. Below is a sample message to send to your Representative that you can make your own and include local examples from their district. Members can sign-on by contacting Jon Bosworth in Rep. Blumenauer’s office or Jeffrey Wilson in Rep. Turner’s office. The deadline for signatures is Thursday, March 28th at 5pm ET.

Sample Letter to Your Representative

“I request that you sign-on to the FY20 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Reps. Michael Turner (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in support of funding for the Historic Preservation Fund. The requested amount supports the important work of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers to administer the federal historic preservation program and continues to support competitive grant programs that help preserve the sites and stories of historically underrepresented communities. The request also includes funding to invest in geographic information systems-based mapping for of historic resources, which would help to expedite project delivery, while avoiding harm to historic resources. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) uses non-tax payer dollars to partner with States and Tribes to help save important places in your community and brings local voices to federal decision-making. Adequate funding for the HPF is essential for recognizing, preserving and utilizing our Nation’s historic resources for all Americans.”

Posted 3/26/19 via Preservation Action.

In the 2018 elections, House Democrats won a sufficient number of seats to flip the balance of power in the House and provide some cushion beyond the 218 seats needed for the majority. However, Republicans did fare better in the Senate. There are multiple races still undecided, but Republicans could increase their majority over the 51 Senators presently seated in the 115^th Congress.

With a divided government coming in January, Republicans see an opportunity to pass key legislation during the year-end “Lame Duck” session while they still hold majorities in each chamber. Since standard Senate procedures requiring 60 votes will apply, passage of these priorities will require bipartisan support of Senate Democrats and collaboration with the House Republicans.

Last year, industry and preservation advocates worked with many Members of Congress to retain the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) in a reformed tax code. While they were successful in keeping the HTC as a permanent tax credit, the HTC is now taken over 5 years, resulting in a loss of value.

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Sen. Cassidy (R-LA), and Sen. Cardin (D-MD), introduced legislation last June to enhance the credit with the “Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act” (HTCEA), H.R. 6081 and S. 3058. This bill would eliminate the basis adjustment requirement for HTC transactions. Presently a property’s basis (value for tax purposes) must be reduced by the amount of HTCs claimed and is therefore entitled to fewer tax benefits. This change would enhance the value of all HTC transactions, attract more capital from tax credit investors, simplify how the credit functions, and improve how the credit pairs with other economic development programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and new Opportunity Zone incentive.

Bill sponsors anticipate an opportunity to attach the HTCEA language to a larger legislative package that could possibly move through Congress during the year-end Lame Duck session. Support for the legislation needs to come from both sides of the aisle to improve its chances of enactment.

Requested Action

Contact your Members of Congress and encourage them to Co-sponsor the HTCEA and ask legislators to include the bill in year-end legislation. To see if your member has co-sponsored, go to H.R. 6081 and S. 3058.

To locate the name and phone number of your House Representative go to: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

To locate the names and phone number of your Senators go to: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC

Or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and asked to be connected to your Senators’ or House Member’s DC office.

Call (during office hours) the offices of your Members of Congress. Ask to speak to tax staff, your staff contacts in offices or ask for email addresses of tax staff.

 Talking Points

• The Historic Tax Credit (HTC) provides owners of historic buildings with an incentive to invest in the difficult task of rehabilitating their properties according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
• While the 20 percent historic tax credit was maintained in the final tax reform bill, it was modified, reducing the amount of reinvestment flowing into our historic communities and neighborhoods.
• Presently, the tax code requires that building owners subtract the amount of HTCs from a building’s basis (the amount a property is worth for tax purposes). Eliminating this requirement will increase the basis of rehabilitated historic buildings for building owners, provide additional tax benefits, and attract more capital from tax credit investors. Rep. LaHood (R-IL), Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), Sen. Cassidy (R-LA), and Sen. Cardin (D-MD) have introduced the Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act (R. 6081 and S. 3058) to eliminate the basis adjustment for federal HTC transactions.
• This legislative change would preserve the vast majority of savings achieved by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act and bring the HTC in line with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which does not require a basis adjustment.
• Enacting this legislation will strengthen the credit and improve the incentive for building owners who are revitalizing historic properties in communities nationwide and improve how the credit pairs with other economic development programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and new Opportunity Zone incentive.
• Please co-sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act, sponsored by Cassidy/Cardin in the Senate ( 3058) and LaHood/Blumenauer in the House (H.R. 6081) and support including this bill in year-end legislation.

This Advocacy Alert is reposted from the National Trust Community Investment Corporation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Posted 11/9/2018

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach has announced a new collaboration with Orange Coast Gakuen, the non-profit Japanese Language School that has operated in Huntington Beach for over 42 years. The translation for the Japanese word “gakuen” is “study garden”, which is an apt description of an educational program partner for a historic goldfish and flower farm property. Historic Wintersburg–designated a National Treasure in 2015–will be working with Orange Coast Gakuen to explore the vision of a restored historical site with green open park space and an educational and cultural center. Orange Coast Gakuen already provides educational programming in Japanese language, as well as cultural programming, such as ikebana (flower arranging), Japanese calligraphy, and tea ceremony. The role of a Japanese Language School with Historic Wintersburg is directly connected to its history. The Wintersburg Japanese Mission helped start and supported the four original Japanese Language Schools in Orange County in the early 1900s, at Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach. Elders and congregants of the Wintersburg Japanese Mission were among the first administrators and teachers, and also among the first arrested and imprisoned after the attack by Japan in 1941. During World War II, the Japanese Language Schools were shuttered and the majority of the buildings no longer exist. Orange Coast Gakuen has been without a permanent home for over 42 years.

It is hoped this vision will be realized with the purchase of the Historic Wintersburg property from Republic Services, Inc., the trash company that currently owns the property. The proposal to sell the property and demolish the historic structures for self storage development is on hold, per Republic Services. Historic Wintersburg remains endangered until the property is purchased for preservation. Negotiations to purchase the property from Republic Services, Inc., are led by Historic Wintersburg’s national partners, the Trust for Public Land and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with assistance brokering meetings by the Ocean View School District (Historic Wintersburg is adjacent to the Oak View preschool and elementary school in the Ocean View School District). The passage in June 2018 of Prop. 68 provides significant funding for the purchase of the property as a future heritage park site.

Requested Action

Please send letters calling for the sale of the property to the Trust for Public Land and for the preservation of National Treasure Historic Wintersburg as an act of corporate responsibility for American heritage. Write Republic Services corporate management, Donald W. Slager, President and Chief Executive Officer, and board of directors,  Manuel Kadre, Chairman of the Board, and Tomago Collins, Chair, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee, at:

Republic Services, Inc.
18500 N. Allied Way
Phoenix, AZ 85054

Click the links below for additional information
http://historicwintersburg.blogspot.com/
https://savingplaces.org/places/historic-wintersburg

Posted 7/11/2018

The owner of the Richard Neutra Connell House in Pebble Beach, listed on the California Register of Historic Resources and found eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, has applied to demolish the house.

Richard Joseph Neutra, renowned mid-century modernist architect, was an Austrian-American architect who lived and built for the majority of his career in Southern California. A photograph of the 1958 “Connell House” is the example used for the “International Style” of architecture in the Pebble Beach Historic Context Statement (page 127).

The Connell House is a pure example of the modernist design aesthetic. The current Connell House owner’s intention is to demolish the house to make way for a new home in its place. As Richard Neutra’s architect son Dion Neutra states, “It would be a great tragedy to lose the only authentic Richard Neutra design in all of Monterey County. The Connell House is irreplaceable.”

Requested Action

Please email letters supporting the preservation of the Richard Neutra Connell House by October 12th to:
ceqacomments@co.monterey.ca.us and kuc@co.monterey.ca.us
Re: Signal Hill LLC (Mehdipour) PLN100338; SCH#2015021054

You can also mail letters to:
Cheryl Ku, Senior Planner
Monterey County, Resource Management Agency
1441 Schilling Place, 2nd Floor
Salinas, CA 93901
(831)-796-6049

And please request to be notified of all public hearings on this property for further advocacy.

Click the links below for additional information

http://www.amap1.org/ConnellHouse.html

http://montereybaymodernism.blogspot.com/p/causes.html

https://www.change.org/p/monterey-bay-modernism-save-the-connell-house-by-richard-neutra-1958-from-demolition

Silicon Valley CEO still battling to demolish historic Pebble Beach home

Posted 9/19/2018

Update 7/27/18

Urge Your Senators to Support the Cassidy/Gillibrand Amendment to Increase HPF Funding by $8 Million During Consideration of the Interior Appropriations Bill

The Senate is currently debating H.R 6147, a minibus appropriations bill that includes the FY19 Senate Interior Appropriations bill.

Urge your Senators to support an amendment being offered by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) to H.R 6147, that would increase the Historic Preservation Fund by $8 million, restoring the HPF to fiscal year 2018 enacted levels. If you live in New York or Louisiana be sure to thank Senators Cassidy and Gillibrand for their continued leadership on historic preservation issues.

Requested Action

Click here to find your Representative

Contact your Senators and request that they support the Cassidy/Gillibrand amendment to preserve and protect some of nation’s most historic resources by restoring funding for the Historic Preservation Fund to last year’s levels.

If you already have a personal contact in your Senator’s office reach out to that person directly. If you don’t have a personal contact, call your Senator’s DC office and ask to speak with the Interior Appropriations staffer. You can also contact the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senator’s office. Explain that this amendment offered by Senators Cassidy and Gillibrand would restore funding to the Historic Preservation Fund, which is funded through oil and gas lease revenue, not tax payer dollars. The HPF funds the work of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and critically important programs that help support preservation projects across the country and in their state.

The Senate is currently debating H.R 6147. Reach out today!

Previous Advocacy Alert

Urge Your Representative to Support Amendments to Restore and Provide Modest Increases for the HPF During Consideration of the Interior Appropriations Bill

The House of Representatives is expected to begin debate this evening on H.R 6147, the Department of Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which funds the Historic Preservation Fund.

Urge your Representative to support the following three amendments up for consideration on the House floor that will provide modest increases for programs funded through the HPF:

• A bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Blumenauer (D-OR), Turner (R-OH), Heck (D-WA), Courtney (D-CT), Adam Smith (D-WA), Katko (D-NY), and Keating (D-MA) that will increase HPF funding by $5 million, restoring appropriations for the HPF to the FY18 enacted level.

• An amendment offered by Representatives Clyburn (D-SC), Sewell (D-AL) and Adams (D-NC) that will increase funds for historic preservation grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities by $2 million.

• An amendment offered by Representative Sewell (D-AL) that will increase funding for competitive grants to preserve the sites and stories of the Civil Rights Movement by $2.5 million.

Requested Action

Click here to find your Representative

Contact your Representative and request that they support these 3 amendments to preserve and protect some of nation’s most historic resources by providing modest increases for the Historic Preservation Fund.

If you already have a personal contact in your Representative’s office reach out to that person directly. If you don’t have a personal contact, call your Representative’s DC office and ask to speak with the Interior Appropriations staffer. You can also contact the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative’s office. Explain that these three amendments would restore funding and provide modest increases to the Historic Preservation Fund, which is funded through oil and gas lease revenue, not tax payer dollars. The HPF funds the work of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and critically important programs that help support preservation projects across the country and in their district/state.

Reach out today! The House is expected to consider H.R 6147 this evening.

This Advocacy Alert is reposted from Preservation Action.

Posted 7/17/18. Updated 7/27/18.

This Advocacy Alert is reposted from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

As our nation’s first all-paved U.S. Highway System connecting the Midwest to California, Route 66 played a significant role in the Dust Bowl, Great Depression, and World War II. But over time, travelers began bypassing Route 66 for the Interstate—causing the independent businesses, rich roadside architecture, and kitschy landmarks and attractions the roadway was known for to slowly diminish. By the 1960s, many communities and businesses along the route fell into deep decay … or disappeared entirely.

Today, this same threat persists as motorists opt for faster and more direct routes. That’s why we need your help in seeking a Historic Trail designation for Route 66. This permanent designation will bring greater public interest and investment to the communities along the iconic highway and encourage their economic revitalization. And most importantly, it will help preserve Route 66 as a vital, iconic, and evolving piece of Americana for generations to come.

Requested Action

Click here to join the National Trust, the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, and dozens of statewide and local partners in seeking a National Historic Trail designation for Route 66.

Posted 7/18/18

The Mothers Building at the San Francisco Zoo contains four New Deal Era Murals by two women artists, Helen K. Forbes and Dorothy W. Pucinelli, the largest egg tempera murals in the West. The building, closed to the public for over 15 years, is an important example of San Francisco’s 1930s artwork. Supervisor Norman Yee’s district includes this historically important structure, and his support is critical in the efforts of the Friends of the Mothers Building at the San Francisco Zoo to re-open the building in the near future.

For additional updates, join the Friends of the Mothers Building at the San Francisco Zoo group on Facebook, or go to www.richardrothman.net.

Requested Action

Writing a letter of support to Supervisor Norman Yee (Norman.Yee@sfgov.org) requesting help securing funding and increased attention for the project.

Posted 7/12/2018

Update 8/28/18 Two of the town’s 4 historic water towers were saved, after more than a year of advocacy from the Chico Heritage Association. More than a dozen CPF members responded to the advocacy alert below, providing valuable assistance and support for the preservation efforts. In the words of Michael Magliari, “It was great to hear from people in other communities who had worked to save their own local water towers and who had good advice and information to share with us!”

Read more in an op-ed Magliari published in the Chico News & Review, here.

Original Advocacy Alert

Do you know of any efforts to preserve historic water towers or other historically significant infrastructure owned by water service public utilities? The Chico Heritage Association is currently working to preserve the town’s four historic water towers and needs help preparing options to preserve these iconic structures in their ongoing discussions with the current owners (Cal Water) and the Chico City Council.

Requested Action

To get involved, email Michael Magliari at mmagliari@csuchico.edu or join the group “Save the Chico Water Towers” on Facebook.

Posted 7/6/18

In January, the City of L.A.’s Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) agreed to take Los Angeles Conservancy’s landmark nomination for The Woman’s Building under consideration. This Thursday, March 15, they will decide whether to recommend designation to the City Council.

Requested Action

Attend the meeting on March 15th, or email your comments in support of landmark designation to:

Gerald Gubatan
Senior Planning Deputy
Councilmember Gil Cedillo
Gerald.Gubatan@lacity.org

Melissa Jones
Planning Assistant
Office of Historic Resources
melissa.jones@lacity.org

Please copy afine@laconservancy.org so that the Los Angeles Conservancy can track progress.

Posted 3/13/2018

The Los Angeles Unified School District has proposed a plan to modernize Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, which includes demolishing almost all of the school’s historic buildings.The Los Angeles Conservancy and the Committee to Defend Roosevelt High School/Defendamos la escuela Roosevelt High School are supporting community members who want to preserve the most important historic elements of the school.

Requested Action

Visit their website to learn more about the threat to Roosevelt High School and how you can help!

Posted 2/16/18

Requested Action

Show your love for the Hotel Fresno by dropping by on Sunday, February 18th at 12:30 to create a “heart bomb.” Heart bombs are love letters to historic places that appear at historic sites nationwide, on local landmarks, and around places both safe and threatened.

https://www.facebook.com/events/157030468288940/

Posted 2/16/18

The City of Martinez is a finalist in a contest to win $500,000 to revitalize its downtown!

A vote for Martinez is a vote for the small business owners who have revamped Main Street, bringing new energy while ensuring historic preservation. You don’t have to live in Martinez to vote, but you can cast a new vote everyday, with as many email addresses as you have.

Requested Action

Please go and vote for Martinez as this is a once in a lifetime shot! https://www.deluxe.com/small-business-revolution/main-street/season-three

Posted 2/15/18

The Napa Valley Expo Board has decided to evict the Napa Valley Model Railroad Historical Society from the location it has held for decades at the Napa Valley Fair Grounds.

The Napa Valley Model Railroad Historical Society is an important educational, cultural, recreational, and historical resource for the community. It interprets the agricultural and industrial heritage of the Napa Valley and is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year in a multi-generational setting. Its eviction would be a devastating loss of a piece of Napa’s heritage that engages families and promotes community identity. Help save this site by signing the petition!

Requested Action

Sign the petition here.

Posted 1/10/2018

Urge Your U.S House Member to Sign Historic Tax Credit Dear Colleague Letter

The Historic Tax Credit is under threat of elimination in the current tax reform legislation. The House tax reform bill eliminates the program, while the Senate version of the bill retains the 20% Historic Tax Credit. The House and Senate will now reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill in conference committee.

Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) is leading a dear colleague letter to be sent to members of the Tax Reform conference committee urging them to retain the Historic Tax Credit in tax reform legislation.

Requested Action

Call or email your U.S House Member and urge them to add their name to the Historic Tax Credit dear colleague letter by contacting Emily Mace in Rep. Westerman’s office at (202) 226-0587 or emily.mace@mail.house.gov.

Posted 12/6/2017