What role can the humanities play in community development– and how can they foster a more democratic future for small towns and cities across America?
Category Archives: Quality of Life
Bridge to the Past: PennDOT’s Historic Metal Truss Bridge Management Plan
In June 2016, I was hired as the Transportation Special Initiatives Coordinator in the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). This new position was created through a special funding agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and was developed … Continue reading
Community Connections: Survey Says!
Did anyone else hear Richard Dawson’s voice yell this out when they read the title of our post today? Perhaps I’m dating myself by knowing who first hosted Family Feud. We didn’t host our own preservation version of one of America’s … Continue reading
Don’t Just Look Forward or Backward: Look Around for Preservation Partners
In 2016, the preservation community has been looking back over the past 50 years to reflect upon the legacy of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The legislation laid the groundwork for the tools and strategies of preservation. For … Continue reading
Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Tax Credit Year 3 Recap
Due to Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budget challenges, the status of Year 3 of Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit program was up in the air through March 2016. With the enactment of a budget, there was a brief application window with … Continue reading
Spotlight Series: Preservation At Work in Bradford
45 communities in Pennsylvania have a formal working relationship with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) on a variety of preservation-related programs and projects. Known as Certified Local Governments (CLGs), these communities represent a broad geographic, demographic and economic … Continue reading
Farms + Family = Heritage
It’s that time of year again . . . . . not holiday shopping, but Farm Show planning! That’s right, the Pennsylvania Farm Show will be taking place soon, January 9-16, and the SHPO will be there for the whole … Continue reading
December’s SHPO Shout-Out
It’s hard to believe that a month has gone by since our first ever SHPO Shout-Out! I’ll give my own Shout-Out to everyone who liked, posted, shared, tweeted, and emailed our November post to spread the word not only about the … Continue reading
Saltsburg Or Bust!
This past June Barbara Frederick and I were in Saltsburg, Indiana County attending a stakeholder meeting for the Loyahanna and Conemaugh Dam’s master planning process. The Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District has been hard at work this summer updating their … Continue reading
Philadelphia’s Magical Mosaic Streetscape and the South Street Renaissance
When I discovered the fabulously whimsical and colorful mosaic murals along the 1000 block of South Street in Philadelphia, I had no idea this outpouring of creativity was actually part of a fascinating preservation story. Visually, the neighborhood is delightful … Continue reading