Historic Preservation IS Good for Local Economic Development!

On Wednesday, June 11, 2008, the Washtenaw County Department of Planning & Environment will host the renowned preservationist and speaker Donovan Rypkema in a historic preservation workshop entitled "THE ECONOMICS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION."  The program begins at 7:30 pm in the Michigan Union's Pendleton Room, 505 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.  This FREE event is open to everyone, but will be of special interest to local government officials, community members, preservation professionals, planners, developers, and students.  It is not necessary to RSVP. 

Featured speaker, Donovan Rypkema, is the author of The Economics of Historic Preservation, and is a pragmatic preservation scholar known for his bold communication style on the topic.  An experienced and dynamic speaker, Rypkema has lectured widely on economic and preservation issues relating to rehabilitation, community development and commercial revitalization.  Professionally, Rypkema is the principal of PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development consulting firm specializing in services to private and public sector clients dealing with downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic structures. In 2004 Rypkema established Heritage Strategies International, a new firm created to provide similar services to world-wide clients.

As well as the evening lecture, Donovan Rypkema will attend a luncheon fundraiser for the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN).  Join Mr. Rypkema at the historic Judge Wilson House, Ann Arbor, for conversation and lunch by Zingerman's Deli.  Your tax-deductible donation of $50 or more, will help sponsor the event and support MHPN at the same time!  Please contact Norm Tyler at (734) 761-5549 or email at ntyler@emich.edu to reserve your place today!

For Washtenaw community officials, Mr. Rypkema has committed to attend a special meeting at 3:30 pm, June 11, 2008.  The afternoon meeting will be held in the Ann Arbor Downtown Library.  Utilizing a Question and Answer presentation format, Rypkema will interact directly with community decision-makers.  Among the topics anticipated are current research, best practices on local economic development and historic preservation.  To reserve your place at this free presentation, contact Norm Tyler at (734) 761-5549 or email at ntyler@emich.edu.

Still need more information?  Please visit http://planning.emich.edu and follow the links to the Rypkema Presentation.  Want to learn more about Donovan Rypkema, his work and goals, visit www.placeeconomics.com for all the latest news and information.  Questions about the programming, costs, and event specifics should be directed to either Melissa Milton-Pung, Washtenaw County Principal Preservation Planner at miltonpungm@ewashtenaw.org or (734) 222-6878 or Norm Tyler, Director, Eastern Michigan University Urban and Regional Planning Program at ntyler@emich.edu or (734) 761-5549. 

The Washtenaw County Historic Preservation Workshop Series has been made possible in part by a Certified Local Government grant from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and supported by several major partners, including the Washtenaw County Historic District Commission, Michigan Historic Preservation Network, and the Ann Arbor Preservation Alliance. Special thanks also to our generous event sponsors, Turner Restoration, Detroit; Quinn|Evans Architects, Ann Arbor; Kidorf Preservation Consulting; Luckenbach Ziegelman Architects; U of M's Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning; and Cityscape Detroit.