Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Category: Laws, Policies, and Regulations (Page 3 of 10)

Preservation’s March Madness

“March Madness” in the historic preservation world isn’t quite the same as the highly competitive, single-elimination college basketball tournaments that happen each March.

I’ve coopted the phrase to describe National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and the days leading up to it in our office. Just like the NCAA I players that begin prepping and practicing weeks and months before their games, we kick off each New Year with making plans, preparing materials and partipants, and scheduling visits for Advocacy Week.

One big difference, of course, is that preservationists don’t compete against each other in a nail-biting, winner-takes-all game. One big similarlity, however, is the frenzy of activity, nerves, and excitement before the big event.

Continue reading

Virgil Cantini: Saving Cantini’s Mosaics

Last week’s blog post introduced the life and work of artist Virgil Cantini and highlighted the vulnerable position of postwar public art objects and installations, which often require special expertise to understand and articulate their significance for preservation. 

This week’s post recounts part of the struggle to save one of Cantini’s largest works of public art, which came dangerously close to disappearing forever.

Continue reading

Preservation Planning through Mitigation in Western PA

In spring of 2015, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO), Shell Chemical Appalachia, LLC (applicant) and the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) concluded consultation after 18 months of discussions under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act about the construction of a petrochemical complex in Beaver County along the Ohio River.

Continue reading

Support Preservation in Pennsylvania by being counted in the 2020 Census

No doubt about it – there is a lot going on this year. I don’t need to elaborate here about the many ways each and every one of us have had our lives turned around, upside down, or inside out over the last six months. Even the idea of just one more thing to do can topple us over like losing game of Jenga.

But this one more thing matters. A lot. It’s making sure to complete your 2020 census form – and encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.

Why? Pennsylvania’s share of federal historic preservation funding is based, in part, on how many people live in the Commonwealth. If that population count is low because all Pennsylvanians aren’t counted, then there is less federal money for the commonwealth to preserve the older and historic places that matter to you and your community.

Continue reading

FYI: PA SHPO’s Updated Project Review Form!

The PA SHPO has recently updated its project review form. Please updated any downloaded or bookmarked forms.

You can find the new form on PHMC’s website here: https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Preservation/About/Documents/SHPO%20Project%20Review%20Form_Digital%20Submission.pdf

Updates include:
Reminders!
  • All initial project submissions must be submitted via email to the PA SHPO’s Project Review resource account.  Please continue to follow the process for emailing submissions outlined here: 
    https://pahistoricpreservation.com/shpo-environmental-review-continuity-operations/
  • Initial project submissions must include two separate PDFs: one for the Project Review Form and one for the attachments.
  • Applicants should only contact reviewers directly for existing projects after consultation has been initiated and a PA SHPO Environmental Review number assigned.

PA SHPO will return Project Review Forms that are submitted incorrectly or incomplete.

Please note:

This form and the email submission process will remain in place until PA-SHARE comes online early next year.

« Older posts Newer posts »
Wordpress Social Share Plugin powered by Ultimatelysocial