Local Historic District Awards Announced

As part of National Preservation Month, 20 awards will be presented for local historic preservation efforts at the June 4, 2012 Ann Arbor city council meeting. The Historic District Awards cover several categories, according to a press release issued by the city. [.pdf of press release with complete list of winners]

Owners of five properties – including the University of Michigan’s Burton Memorial Tower and The Relax Station at 300 W. Huron – will be honored for rehabilitating those properties “in accordance with good preservation practice as established by the U.S. Department of the Interior.”  Owners of another 10 properties will be recognized for having preserved their property for over 10 years of continuous ownership. People in that category include councilmember Mike Anglin and his wife Kathy Clark, for the house they own at 549 S. First, and Herb David for his shop at 302 E. Liberty.

A lifetime achievement award will be give to Rosemarion Blake. The press release cites her work “to promote local history by serving on the City of Ann Arbor Historic District Commission, the Washtenaw County Historical Society, the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation, the Kempf House Board, the Cobblestone Farm Association, and many historic study committees including one which resulted in the publication of Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor.”

Nancy Deromedi and Tracy Aris will receive special merit awards for establishing the A2Modern group and website. And two entities – the UM Rackham Graduate School and Zal Gaz Grotto Club – will be given Centennial Awards for the longevity of their organizations.

The award winners were selected by the following committee: Patricia Austin, Ina Hanel-Gerdenich, Patrick McCauley, Louisa Pieper, Ellen Ramsburgh, Mark Rueter, Fran Wright, Grace Shackman, Tom Stulberg and Susan Wineburg. McCauley, Ramsburgh and Stulberg are members of the Ann Arbor historic district commission.