National Trust for Historic Preservation Honors HCF, City of Charleston for Preservation Plan
For Immediate Release, October 2009
The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its Preservation Honor Award on Thursday (10/15) to Historic Charleston Foundation in recognition of the successful development the city’s newly revised Preservation Plan. The award was one of 23 bestowed by the National Trust during its 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
The City of Charleston and Page & Turnbull, Inc. were recognized as co-recipients along with HCF.
Developed through a partnership between the city of Charleston and Historic Charleston Foundation, the plan, completed in August 2008, looks beyond bricks and mortar to consider social, economic and cultural issues that affect preservation. In addition to advocating tools for evaluating characteristics that define individual neighborhoods, the plan offers strategies for addressing sprawl, gentrification, disaster management and the need for affordable housing.
Founded in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007 by presenting the city with $75,000 in seed money to hire Page & Turnbull to undertake the planning process. The genesis of the new plan came from the foundation’s Planning Committee, which had grown concerned about the rapid pace of development and numerous large development projects being proposed in and near the city’s historic downtown core.
“The trustees and staff who envisioned and worked so hard on the development of this plan are greatly honored by this recognition,” said Kitty Robinson, HCF’s executive director. “After more than 60 years, Charleston and Historic Charleston Foundation continue to set the national pace for historic preservation efforts.”
The National Preservation Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of architectural and cultural heritage. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies and craftsmen whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their
communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation. Winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear in the November/December issue of Preservation Magazine and online at www.PreservationNation.org/awards.
After a yearlong process involving 11 focus groups, a standing Citizen Advisory Group and 33 workshops and meetings that generated 1,500 public comments, the City Council’s unanimous approval of the plan gave Charleston a strong preservation-based roadmap for its future.
“As the city faces sprawl, continuing development pressure and a rapidly growing population, the Charleston Preservation Plan was commissioned at a critical juncture in the city’s history,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Much of what we know about preservation we learned from Charleston. This visionary plan shows that Charleston can still teach us a great deal.”
Since its founding in 1670, Charleston has enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for preserving its culture and history. From the city’s earliest days, residents knew Charleston—with its wealth of Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian architecture—was special and worked determinedly to protect their city. In 1931, Charleston passed the nation’s first historic preservation ordinance, and now, nearly 80 years later, Charleston has adopted a groundbreaking plan for moving preservation into the 21st century.
To download high resolution images of this year’s National Preservation Award winners, visit www.PreservationNation.org/press
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
(www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, 9 regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.
