[Massplanners] Updates from the Massachusetts Historical Commission

[Doherty, Jennifer (SEC)]

Updates from the Massachusetts Historical Commission

Announcing Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) Round 28
Secretary William F. Galvin, Chair of the Massachusetts Historical Commission is pleased to announce that Round 28 of the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) grant program has been scheduled. It is anticipated that funding will be in the range of the previous grant round which was $800,000.

Administered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), the MPPF is a state-funded 50% matching grant reimbursement program established in 1984 to support the preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Applicants must be a municipality or nonprofit organization. The program is administered in accordance with 950 CMR 73.00.  Please note that grant disbursement is subject to reauthorization of the capital accounts and the availability of sufficient allocated funds.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  March 18, 2022

TO APPLY:  Download the MPPF Application<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/MPPF/MPPF-Round-28-Application.pdf> and MPPF Application Instructions<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/MPPF/MPPF-Round-28-Instructions.pdf> from the MHC website<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcmppf/mppfidx.htm> or request a hard copy of the Application by contacting the MHC Grants Division at 617-727-8470.

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO PRESENTATIONS:  We strongly encourage all potential applicants to view the video presentations available for download on the MHC website, familiarize themselves with the application requirements, and begin compiling application materials as early as possible in order to meet the application deadline.

The MPPF Program Introduction video<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcmppf/MPPF-Program-Introduction.mp4> provides an overview of the program's history and its impact on historic sites throughout the Commonwealth.  In the MPPF Application Presentation video<https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcmppf/MPPF-Rd-28-Application-Presentation.mp4>, MHC staff present the MPPF application process in its entirety.

CONTACT:  Please contact one of the following MPPF project managers with questions regarding the MPPF program and application process

Paul Holtz, paul.holtz at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:paul.holtz at sec.state.ma.us>

Ross Dekle, ross.dekle at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:ross.dekle at sec.state.ma.us>

Tracey A. Fortier, tracey.fortier at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:tracey.fortier at sec.state.ma.us>


Upcoming MHC Workshops
Below is the spring 2022 schedule of workshops. Workshops are still over Zoom only for the foreseeable future. Click on the workshop titles below to register.

We will now be offering two ticket options: the LIVE ticket will allow you to attend the Zoom "in person" and receive a recording after the workshop ends; with the RECORDING ticket you will not receive the Zoom link but will receive a recording of the workshop. You do not need to register for both; the LIVE ticket will provide you with a recording in case you can't make the workshop.

Becoming a Certified Local Government<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219319629917> - Friday, January 14, 10 am
For communities with a higher level of preservation knowledge and activity, the National Park Service offers the Certified Local Government (CLG) program<https://www.nps.gov/subjects/clg/index.htm>. This agreement between the Park Service, the Massachusetts Historical Commission, and the local community allows for more local involvement in historic preservation activities at the state and federal levels. Massachusetts currently has 27 CLGs. This workshop will cover the requirements and application process for becoming a CLG as well as the benefits. Please note: you must have a local historic district to become a CLG. Communities without a local historic district may attend this workshop to learn more about the CLG program, but you must establish a local historic district before applying for CLG status.

Adopting a Demolition Delay Bylaw or Ordinance<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219336630767> - Thursday, January 27, 7 pm
Demolition delay bylaws/ordinances are one of the most critical preservation tools a community can adopt. While they do not fully prevent the demolition of historic resources, they provide for a pause in the demolition process, allowing for the exploration of alternatives to demolition. This workshop will discuss the history of demolition delay bylaws/ordinances and how your community might go about adopting one. Please note that the focus of this workshop is adopting a demolition delay bylaw/ordinance; administering these bylaws/ordinances will be covered only briefly, but will be discussed in detail at a later workshop.

Introduction to Historic Preservation<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219414252937> - Tuesday, February 8, 10 am
You were appointed to a local historical commission or historic district commission - now what? This workshop will cover the basics to help you be an educated commissioner familiar with the terminology and programs of the historic preservation field. There will be a high-level discussion of the key historic preservation tools, but their details and implementation processes will be covered in other workshops. You will come away from the presentation being able to speak knowledgeably about your commission and its role in the community, and having a sense of how to develop a work plan for your commission.

Administering Local Historic Districts and Design Review<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219420832617> - Thursday, February 24, 1 pm
Local historic districts are one of the strongest forms of protection for historic resources. Their goal is to allow for the thoughtful consideration of change - protecting a neighborhood's community character while allowing changes necessitated by modern life and maintenance. This workshop will go in-depth on how to administer a local historic district, how to handle the application and review process, and will provide some guidance on design review. Please note that this workshop will not include information on establishing a local historic district; that is covered in a separate workshop.

Architectural Styles, Forms, and Building Technologies of Massachusetts<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219437281817> - Wednesday, March 9, 7 pm
Many local commission members may have a wealth of knowledge about their community's history, but feel less sure speaking about their community's architecture. This workshop will provide a very high-level overview of residential house forms, architectural styles, and changes in building technology found in Massachusetts. Ranging from the First Period of settlement to the early 20th century, this workshop will allow you to better identify the historic resources in your community, more accurately date them, and set them into a larger context so you can evaluate their significance.

Developing an Historic Preservation Plan<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219438906677> - Monday, March 21, 1 pm
Historic preservationists are often reactive - a property in your community is threatened, and you are spurred into action. But how can your local historical commission and wider preservation community be more proactive? Developing an historic preservation plan for your community can help you understand your historic resources better, see where there are gaps in your knowledge and level of protection, and help you discover the key preservation tools you might be missing. In this workshop you will learn more about what goes into a preservation plan, why it is important, and how you might prepare one for your community.

State and Federal Historic Resources Project Review & Compliance<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219441343967> - Thursday, April 7, 10 am
Laws and regulations at the state and federal levels require different kinds of review if a project will impact historic resources. The review process is overseen by the MHC. Learn more about the different triggers for this review, what is involved in the process, and how your local commission might be involved.

Historic Resources Survey and the National Register of Historic Places<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/219444162397> - Wednesday, April 20, 10 am
One of the most important tasks a local historical commission can undertake is to identify and evaluate the community's historic resources. This is primarily done through survey and inventory work, which documents historic resources on standardized forms produced by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Then you can evaluate your historic resources for potential listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Learn more about the survey process and National Register designation in this workshop, and especially how the two work hand-in-hand to help you deepen your understanding of your local historic resources.


Recent Listings in the National Register of Historic Places
Boston, JFK Federal Building


Recent Local Historic Districts
Alford, Alford Center Historic District (Expansion)
Springfield, Aunchman House Local Historic District
Springfield, Elias Brookings Local Historic District


Funding Opportunities
These grants are not offered by MHC; all question should be directed to their respective organizations

Save America's Treasures (applications due December 14) - the National Park Service is offering funds through the Save America's Treasures grant program to preserve collections and structures ("bricks and mortar" work) that have national significance. For more information, click here<https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/save-america-s-treasures-grant-opportunity.htm>.

Telling the Full History Preservation Fund (applications due December 15) - the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation area offering up to 60 grants to organizations focused on telling the stories of women, immigrants, minorities, LGBTQ communities, and other underrepresented groups. Grants will be awarded in four categories, including research and documentation related to landmark designations and the physical preservation of buildings. For more information, click here<https://forum.savingplaces.org/build/funding/grant-seekers/specialprograms/tellingthefullhistoryfund>.

Underrepresented Communities Grants (applications due January 11, 2022; only available to CLGs) - the National Park Service's Underrepresented Communities Grants seek to diversify the stories told in nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. Projects should relate to a typically underrepresented community and result in a new or amended National Register of Historic Places nomination. For more information, click here<https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/underrepresented-communities-grants-opportunity.htm>.

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (letters of intent due January 14, 2022) - the National Trust's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund will provide grants to projects that support preservation activities related to African American cultural heritage. Projects must fit into one of four program areas: capital projects, organizational capacity building, project planning, and programming and interpretation. For more information, click here<https://forum.savingplaces.org/build/funding/grant-seekers/specialprograms/aachactionfund>.


Join the preservation conversation! Subscribe to the MassHistPres email listserv to stay up-to-date on all the historic preservation happenings in Massachusetts. Sign up here: https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres


Now it's your turn - update the MHC!
New commission members? Changes to your demolition delay bylaw? Other preservation activities? Let us know! And if you haven't provided full contact information for your commission members in a while, please send that along so our records are correct - names, mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. All information can be sent to jennifer.doherty at sec.state.ma.us<mailto:jennifer.doherty at sec.state.ma.us>.


Jennifer B. Doherty
Local Government Programs Coordinator
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3314
Office: (617) 727-8470
Remote: (617) 807-0685
Jennifer.Doherty at sec.state.ma.us

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