Conservation grants awarded to six cities in Michigan and Washtenaw County
Communities across Michigan will make repairs, digitize documents for easier access and reinforce a barn in the community’s historic park, all made possible by grants totaling $250,000 from the State Historic Preservation Office.
Detroit, Charlevoix, Livonia, Flat Rock, Holland, Coldwater and Washtenaw Counties received funds from the program, the Michigan Strategic Fund said last week.
Some will use the grants for projects to repair and improve historic buildings. The grants come from the federal government’s Historic Preservation Fund Certified Local Government program, which is administered by the state’s historic preservation office.
“For more than 40 years, the CLG program has helped build partnerships that support communities in their efforts to plan, invest in and tell the story of their irreplaceable cultural assets,” said Ryan Schumaker, State Historic Preservation Officer.
Detroit will use the funds to hire a contractor to digitize survey documents of historic buildings, which will help the Historic Designation Advisory Board provide information to other city entities such as the Historic District Commission and help property owners participate in city planning efforts, according to the press release.
Charlevoix will use the money to replace the roof of City Hall. The building dates back to 1939 and is located in historic downtown Charlevoix, which is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The city also has other preservation work planned for the building.
Livonia will use the grant to hire a contractor to develop plans and designs for stabilizing the South Barn, a former dairy barn, in Greenmead Historical Park. The barn is part of the original Simmons Farm, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Livonia purchased the park, which is nearly 200 years old and covers 95 acres, in 1976, according to the city’s website.
Washtenaw County will use its funds to hire a contractor to make repairs and structural improvements to the basement and foundation of Gordon Hall in Dexter and has partnered with the Dexter Area Historical Society for the project. The improvements will allow the historical society to rehabilitate the upper floors of the hall. Gordon Hall was built in the 1840s and was the home of Judge Samuel Dexter, who was involved in the development of Washtenaw County in the early days, according to the county.
Holland plans to hire a contractor to renovate the roof of the Holland Museum. According to its website, the museum covers history from the founding of Holland by Dutch immigrants to the present day. The city and the museum are also renovating the former post office, which dates back to 1914.
Coldwater plans to use the funds — $18,000, according to the city’s website — for a structural analysis of the Beech House, which is now used as a community center. The city has partnered with the Coldwater Community Center for the redevelopment project. The house was built by John Beech, a Civil War surgeon, according to the city’s website. It was later used as a funeral home, but sat vacant for years until a nonprofit was formed to convert the building into a cultural center in 2022.
Flat Rock will use its award to conduct training through the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program for historic district staff and commissioners, as well as interested individuals from downriver communities. The goal of the program is to increase local expertise in historic preservation.
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