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Wendy Shay has served as the city of Independence’s historic preservation manager since 2004. The Missouri Preservation’s annual statewide historic preservation conference, “Protecting the Irreplaceable,” will take place today through Friday in Independence. Visit the city’s Web site at ci.independence.mo.us/comdev/HistoricPreservation.aspx or the state’s Web site at preservemo.org/ for more information.
1 What is the purpose of the statewide historic preservation conference, and what makes Independence a suitable location as its host city?
The statewide conference is an event for both preservation professionals, as well as volunteers. It’s an opportunity for both networking and for continuing education. The reason why it is important for us to host it in Independence, I think, is we are one of the most historic cities in Missouri. We have a history that runs from pioneer days through the 20th century. It’s an opportunity to showcase both the challenges and successes that we’ve had in historic preservation.
2 How does the growing trend of green building sometimes conflict with historic preservation guidelines?
Honestly, I would say that they don’t. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is trying to promote green building and preservation by saying that sustaining buildings are the most green buildings that you have. You are utilizing the resources that were all there previously and just improving on them. I think they work really well together.
3 How can historic preservation and economic development work hand-in-hand?
I think it’s the same issue. There’s a sense of place that goes with existing buildings. There’s a history and character there. You’re saving the economic resources by not having to recreate it in another location. I think there are a lot of creative ways that economic development and historic preservation go hand-in-hand. There are financial incentives for that, as well.
4 What affect can the Independence Commercial Facade Improvement Program have on historic preservation on the Square and in Englewood, Fairmount and Maywood?
I think it already has. The city utilizes the Community Development Block Grant funds, but they utilize preservation guidelines for those projects to retain the architectural integrity. There’s been numerous projects in Englewood and on the Square, and I know that there have been talks about similar projects in Fairmount and Maywood. I work with our CDBG coordinator (Christina Leakey) to ensure that those guidelines are utilized. Overall, I think it’s been tremendously successful.
5 What are some simple actions that everyday citizens can take to help preserve the historic significance of Independence?
I get asked this question a lot. In a community like ours, I think there are a 100 different directions that someone could go. It could be volunteering at a historic site. It could be researching at the Jackson County Historical Society. Preservation is kind of a piece of a little bit of everything when it relates to history.
Wendy Shay has served as the city of Independence’s historic preservation manager since 2004. The Missouri Preservation’s annual statewide historic preservation conference, “Protecting the Irreplaceable,” will take place today through Friday in Independence. Visit the city’s Web site at ci.independence.mo.us/comdev/HistoricPreservation.aspx or the state’s Web site at preservemo.org/ for more information.
1 What is the purpose of the statewide historic preservation conference, and what makes Independence a suitable location as its host city?
The statewide conference is an event for both preservation professionals, as well as volunteers. It’s an opportunity for both networking and for continuing education. The reason why it is important for us to host it in Independence, I think, is we are one of the most historic cities in Missouri. We have a history that runs from pioneer days through the 20th century. It’s an opportunity to showcase both the challenges and successes that we’ve had in historic preservation.
2 How does the growing trend of green building sometimes conflict with historic preservation guidelines?
Honestly, I would say that they don’t. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is trying to promote green building and preservation by saying that sustaining buildings are the most green buildings that you have. You are utilizing the resources that were all there previously and just improving on them. I think they work really well together.
3 How can historic preservation and economic development work hand-in-hand?
I think it’s the same issue. There’s a sense of place that goes with existing buildings. There’s a history and character there. You’re saving the economic resources by not having to recreate it in another location. I think there are a lot of creative ways that economic development and historic preservation go hand-in-hand. There are financial incentives for that, as well.
4 What affect can the Independence Commercial Facade Improvement Program have on historic preservation on the Square and in Englewood, Fairmount and Maywood?
I think it already has. The city utilizes the Community Development Block Grant funds, but they utilize preservation guidelines for those projects to retain the architectural integrity. There’s been numerous projects in Englewood and on the Square, and I know that there have been talks about similar projects in Fairmount and Maywood. I work with our CDBG coordinator (Christina Leakey) to ensure that those guidelines are utilized. Overall, I think it’s been tremendously successful.
5 What are some simple actions that everyday citizens can take to help preserve the historic significance of Independence?
I get asked this question a lot. In a community like ours, I think there are a 100 different directions that someone could go. It could be volunteering at a historic site. It could be researching at the Jackson County Historical Society. Preservation is kind of a piece of a little bit of everything when it relates to history.
