Too often, members of a community feel helpless when historic resources of local, state, and national significance are threatened. The Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance wants to give you the voice and support you need to save these historic places. In recent years, we have found that the best way to save endangered historic places is to make people with the power to preserve them understand what makes the resource signifant. The Rath Administration building in Waterloo, the Williges Building in Sioux City, the Wetherby Cottage in Iowa City, and the Henshie-Briggs Row House in Des Moines all have a chance for new life because passionate preservationists voiced their concern against demolition. We believe it's time for members of the state to join together to preserve historic buildings and sites. Together, we can save Iowa's past for future generations.
Let us know about historic places in your area that need additional voices calling for preservation. Also let us know how Iowans can help encourage preservation-friendly local or statewide policies. Together, we can make a difference across the state!
Send an email to TakeAction@iowapreservation.org describing how IHPA members can help you Take Action! in your community. Please include the name of the endangered resource and specific actions that can be taken. If you would like letters sent to specific public officials, be sure to include their name, title, and address. Send a digital photograph if possible. We'll post your calls for help here and keep IHPA members updated on the results in future issues of The Iowa Preservationist.
Fellow supporters of historic preservation, we need your help today. Iowa has suffered millions of dollars of damage to historic properties that are such an important part of the fabric of our society. Two important pieces of legislation related to disaster recovery are working their way through Congress. With these funds we can begin to rebuild these irreplaceable historic resources.
One piece of legislation is to adopt an increase in Federal Historic Tax Credits for the rehabilitation of flood damaged historic commercial buildings. Especially important is the proposed increase to 40% for the rehabs under $2 million, which will include most of our smaller buildings on our main streets.
The second piece of legislation is a supplemental appropriation to provide a pool of $35 million of grant money to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO) for granting to homes, commercial, and cultural properties listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. An additional $3 million is for the SHPOs to handle the required section 106 reviews of the effect any federal funded project has on cultural resources.
What you can do: Take Action! now by downloading the letters below, modifying them for your use, and faxing them to our Iowa Senators and/or Representatives. Your prompt support of this legislation is vital to the success of this money coming to Iowa.
Download the contact letter for tax credit legislation here (23KB MS Word document).
Download the contact letters for the second supplemental appropriation here (can also be modified to send to your Representatives in the House):
Letter for Senator Harkin (MS Word format, 24KB)
Senator Harkin fax #: (202) 224-9369
Letter for Senator Grassley (MS Word format, 24KB)
Senator Grassley fax #: (202) 224-6020