Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Grand Island Town Board ordinance to preserve historic Island buildings in discussion stage

by jmaloni

•Taken from the Dec. 26 Island Dispatch

Wed, Dec 31st 2014 02:30 pm

The Historic Preservation Advisory Board is hoping to have an ordinance passed by the Grand Island Town Board in the next few months that would establish regulations for the preservation of buildings that have historical significance.

Advisory board member June Crawford is speaking with community groups to spread the word. On Friday, Dec. 19, she spoke with four of teacher Robert Simpson's government classes at Grand Island High School, outlining the basics of the ordinance and giving a PowerPoint presentation of properties that have been lost and those still here. Crawford said "historical properties can be a catalyst for new business by becoming a stopping point for tourists." An ordinance can help owners with funding and tax breaks.

At this time the only Grand Island property that is on the National Register of Historic Places is the Spaulding Boathouse on West River. The National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.

Crawford spoke with seventh-grade social studies classes at Veronica Connor Middle School Dec. 22 and will meet with the Golden Age Center members at their birthday luncheon in January.

Pictured, Crawford speaks at a meeting of the Grand Island Town Board in November. To her right is Bill Koch, chairman of the Historic Preservation Advisory Board. (photo by Larry Austin)

Hometown News

View All News