Preservation Detroit

In 1701, Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac and fifty-one other brave souls landed on the shores of the strait of Lake Erie. As a tip of hat to Louis XIV’s Minister of Marine, they named their new settlement Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit.

313 years have transpired; that’s a lot of history, a lot stuff built and occurred in a unique pocket of the planet along a shore of the largest freshwater inland sea in the world. It would be hard enough to keep track of all of that and hold tight to the important stuff but the current state of affairs makes it even harder to even catalog what we have and prioritize what can and should be preserved.

Luckily, in 1975 two Wayne State University (WSU) students formed a student organization, named Preservation Wayne, to fight the demolition of historic WSU buildings. Eventually Preservation Wayne evolved into Preservation Detroit and is headquartered in its first successful saved building, the David Mackenzie house.

The mission of Preservation Detroit is preserve and revitalize Detroit’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Through education and advocacy, research and awareness, Preservation Detroit seeks to preserve the architectural elements and neighborhoods. This includes the redevelopment of Detroit through the restoration and re-use of the irreplaceable buildings and historic neighborhoods that serve as anchors for stability of residential areas and catalysts for economic investment.

“Detroit is one of the most architecturally rich cities in America, and historic preservation has been a huge part of the story of Detroit’s recent resurgence,” says Amy Elliott Bragg, president of Preservation Detroit’s board of directors. “People want to live in cities that have character, places that have stories to tell. Our job in Detroit is to protect that character and those stories.”

In the US, we don’t always have enough appreciation for the history we have here. In Europe, they still live in homes built during the reign of Louis XIV, here we too often are willing to sacrifice what was built by those who came before in deference to the new and shiny. Luckily, we have groups like Preservation Detroit that are willing to look out for those treasures and teach us their value.

To learn more about Preservation Detroit, visit their web site at perservationdetroit.org.

Finally!

I apologize for taking so long to get new information into the Shouldn't Be Secret blog. A lot of end-of-summer stuff has cropped up: I got sick, my daughter's birthday and back-to-school shopping had to be done (I can't believe school starts next week!).

I again apologize, but coming next is a short write up on a very special nonprofit: Preservation Detroit.

Please check the out and expect more regular entries from me.

--Thomas

NOT an orphan!

For those of you who have checked in on this blog that last few weeks, rest assured I have not abandoned it. It's just been an eventful few weeks for me: I have earned a certificate in grant writing; I have fought a nasty summer cold for two weeks and my daughter's seventh birthday is this week requiring some preparation on my part.

I have a couple of entries in the pipeline and I hope to be back on track next week. Thank you so much for checking back. I will have some new content up here soon.

Thanks again,

--Thomas

Pushing Forward

Just wanted to update the blog this week. Personally, I have just completed my legal paperwork and ID design for Third Coast Consultants, LLC (aka 3C2), a grant writing consultancy. Next step, create a web site. Also, this week is my final week of work to complete a certification in grant writing.

So...I apologize for not having fresh content up here as of late. I will be back on track next week, if not later this week.

In the mean time, if you have suggestions for any nonprofits that deserve some recognition, drop me a line at thomas.reed@me.com.

--Thomas J. Reed, Jr.
Chief Grant Consultant
Third Coast Consultants, LLC

US Green Building Council - Detroit Regional Chapter

Our city on the straits turned 313 years old recently. Over the course of that time innumerable buildings, big and small, distinguished and forgettable have graced the cityscape.

Unfortunately, the past several decades have seen many buildings suffer the ravages of both time and neglect. Recently, however, there has been a renewed interest in renovating and reviving both commercial and residential properties within the city.

Luckily, there is an organization that can serve as a resource for those looking to move forward in bringing the area’s real estate inventory back into functionality in the most sustainable, low-impact way: The US Green Building Council. The Detroit chapter was established in 2002; its mission is to impact the way buildings and communities are designed.

The Detroit Regional Chapter’s many individual committees focus the work of the organization. Most meet monthly, and there is one that addresses almost every issue that is pertinent to the real estate industry of Detroit.

One focus of the USGBC is LEED. The acronym stands for Leadership in Energy efficient and Environmental Design, and has become not only the organizations Standard, but an International Standard for encouraging efficient and healthy buildings.

There is LEED for New Construction, its first standard, or LEED for Homes, or LEED Neighborhood Development, or Green Schools, Commercial Real Estate or Emerging Professionals. The USGBC Detroit Chapter has members and resources that are leveraged by individuals and companies working to bring local real estate back to a high level of quality in the wisest fashion.

The local chapter brought many leaders to Detroit to show off the uncelebrated jewels of the city USGBC Midyear Meeting earlier this year. It’s Emerging Professionals Committee selected eight community partners that will work long-term with the USGBC to support their work that advances the goal of sustainability in Detroit. Ultimately, the USGBC and it’s partners seek to promote environmentally building practices employed and healthier buildings occupied.

You can check out the resources available through the USGBC on their web site. There is also a calendar of events they sponsor as well.

Talk about the work the USGBC is doing. They are helping change the direction Detroit is evolving in. Let people know; their work shouldn’t be secret.