ERMUSR HANDOUT #1 12-14-2010
Haug, Rebecca
From: Erin Hanafin Berg <ehberg@mnpreservation.org>
Sent: Monday, December O6, 2010 5:03 PM
Cc: 'Erin Hanafin Berg'
Subject: Preservation Alliance of Minnesota -Call for Nominations - 10 Most Endangered Historic
Places 2011
Greetings, Heritage Preservation Commission member or staff liaison
I am writing to invite you to nominate a property in your community to the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's annual
10 Most Endangered Historic Places list. We have learned over the years that this program is one of PAM's most
successful tools for engaging local citizens in preservation activity.
The 10 Most Endangered program shines a spotlight on historic sites and buildings that are threatened with demolition,
increasing disinvestment and neglect, or which face significant organizational challenges and financial obstacles.
Through the 10 Most Endangered program, PAM works with local communities to surmount these impediments to
preservation and seek rehabilitation or creative reuse of the buildings. Nominated properties do not need to be locally
designated or listed in the National Register, although designation status will be one of the criteria considered by the
listing committee in reviewing nominations.
PAM's 10 Most Endangered program has been in place for 18 years, and has recognized over 150 historic sites. Of those,
more than half are known to have been saved in part due to the awareness generated by their listing. Already, several
sites on the 20101ist have been saved, including the Garrison Concourse on Lake Mille Lacs, which received Federal
stimulus funds to begin its rehabilitation, and the Todd County Courthouse, which was the subject of a bonding
referendum on the November 2 general election ballot in Todd County. Citizens in Jackson, Minnesota have rallied
behind their threatened 1938 school building and have taken the property owner (Jackson County) to court in alast-
ditch attempt to save the building from demolition.
Again this year, PAM will present a seed grant to one of the sites included on the 2011-10 Most Endangered list. The
recipient of the grant will be chosen by popular vote during an event we call the (Anti)Wrecking Ball, on May 12, 2011,
during which the 10 Most Endangered sites will be announced to the public. We held the (Anti)Wrecking Ball for the first
time in 2010, and it was one of our most successful programs, both for PAM and the participants. Representatives ofall
ten listed sites attended the event to begin building support for preservation, and found the event-and the seed grant
competition-to be a supportive and engaging forum in which to practice their preservation advocacy "pitch."
The deadline for nominations is Friday, December 31, 2010, although that date can be somewhat flexible. If your
Commission is considering nominating a property but cannot meet the Dec. 31 deadline, please let me know and we can
work out an alternate deadline. The nomination form is available at the Alliance's website,
www.mnoreservation or¢/oroarams/ten-most-endangered/ Prior years' 10 Most Endangered lists can also be viewed on
the website.
Thanks for the work that you do as HPC members and staff to preserve so much of what makes Minnesota a wonderful,
historic state.
Best regards,
Erin Hanafin Berg
Field Representative
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
416 Landmark Center
75 West Fifth Street