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Year-End Newsletter, December 2016
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Message from Shanon Shea Miller
AICP, Director
2016 has been such a fantastic and successful year for OHP. From the growth of the Vacant Building Registration Program to the launch of important new initiatives, our reach is expanding in new and exciting ways. Continue reading for program and event recaps, and see what's coming soon in 2017.
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At the beginning of the year, we launched ScoutSA, a comprehensive survey and designation program with a goal of identifying what makes San Antonio unique in terms of heritage, culture and the physical environment. Through the program, we invite everyone to explore, discover, and celebrate our rich and diverse heritage.
We also established the Rehabber Club which has continued to gain momentum throughout the year. With a mission to build & support a network of do-it yourselfers, craftsmen, contractors, historic homeowners and realtors, membership and attendance is continuing to grow. Follow the club on Facebook for updates on next year’s events, including a window repair workshop.
Our department is also growing! In the last few months we’ve welcomed Senior Management Analysts Dianne Sassenhagen and John Anthony Sanchez and Code Enforcement Officer Manuel Barajas. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish it all without our dedicated staff. Thank you all for your hard work & commitment!
Finally, we want to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete our customer satisfaction survey. Your input will help us to serve you better in 2017.
Happy Holidays,
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In celebration of Preservation Month in May, OHP hosted or partnered in over 10 events across the city reaching over 1,000 participants. Next year's Preservation Month promises to be even bigger. Registration for the popular Amazing Preservation Race, taking place on May 6, is available now. Stay tuned for announcement of all events and sponsorship opportunities early next year!
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San Antonio’s admirable preservation ethic was on display at the 2016 Historic Homeowner Fair, hosted in a new location at the Pearl! The Pearl Stable and San Antonio Area Foundation allowed the Fair to grow to accommodate an expanded Exhibitor Hall and additional educational sessions. Read more...
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In 2016 the S.T.A.R. project provided assistance for 8 homes located in the Mission and Dignowity Hill Historic Districts. Over 80 college students from UTSA and SAC participated in the workd days and gained some important new skills and expertise. Read more about S.T.A.R. and view a photo gallery on our blog.
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Thank you to all that participated in our 2016 SApreservation 5k series. We had about 400 participants come get fit with us. That's 1,200 miles total! We toured historic Brackenridge Park, discovered the Missions, braved the Eastside Cemeteries, and were amazed by Downtown landmarks. We hope you join us next year as we cover much more history and many more miles!
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As part of the World Heritage Festival and in celebration of 100 years of the National Park Service, OHP held Restored By Light at Mission San Jose on September 9, 2016. Over 2,000 people showed up to see the spectacular sight of Mission San Jose "restored" using projection technology. Check out the video and mark your calendar for next year's event taking place September 8, 2017!
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Vacant Building Registration Program
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Pictured above, 202 W Mariposa before and after
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The Vacant Building Registration Pilot Program was made permanent by City Council earlier this summer. The pilot has already yielded some positive results in our center city neighborhoods and historic districts, and the approval of a permanent program ensures continued investment in our vacant and blighted building stock.
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On January 1, the program will expand geographically to include new areas for an even greater impact in our city. The expansion adds 75 square miles to the program area, roughly tripling the size of the pilot program area. Read more about the program expansion and see exciting examples of recent success stories on the program’s webpage.
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ScoutSA, our comprehensive survey and designation initiative, is so much more than just a traditional building inventory. From discovering the stories of mid-century San Antonio to exploring the city’s past at Siclovia and celebrating new landmarks, ScoutSA made 2016 a year to remember! Visit our blog to see what to expect in 2017!
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The SApreservation Rehabber Club is almost one year old! We had a great first year of meetups covering sustainability, wood window repair, energy efficient roofs, and the HDRC / permitting process. We’re working on next year’s training including a wood window repair certification class on February 3 and 4 at the Richter House at Hemisfair. Stay tuned for a future workshops including porch repair and decking replacement.
If you’re interested in learning more about Rehabber Club or becoming a member, pleas visit our website or contact [email protected].
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OHP staff led and participated in several collaborative initiatives this year to capture and tell San Antonio’s cultural story, from the city’s people and traditions, to the many stories buildings tell. Read all about it and view a photo gallery in our blog.
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What a wonderful year for Heritage Education in San Antonio. We saw amazing projects and engagement at New Frontiers Charter School and Sarah King Elementary as they participated in ScoutSA. The students also participated in the This Place Matters campaign and identifying places that matter to them. This past fall we launched the first ScoutSA Geocache project at St. Mary’s Hall where we expect the student-led project to produce a geocache that allows followers to explore and discover San Antonio history. If you want to bring Heritage Education curriculum to your school, please Lauren Sage at 210-207-3327.
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This year OHP staff served as the City of San Antonio’s archaeology representative for all archaeological investigations associated with the Alamo Master Plan. In addition to managing the excavations, OHP attended Alamo Plaza Committee meetings and coordinated the archaeological scope of work with the Texas Historical Commission. The archaeological discoveries at the Alamo have gained national attention and have received press coverage from numerous media outlets. "Rediscovering the Alamo" is the most recent cover story (summary) for American Archaeology Magazine. Links to additional media coverage can be found on our website.
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New Historic Building Enforcement Officer
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Manuel Barajas Jr. is the new Historic Building Enforcement Officer. He has been with the City of San Antonio for the better part of a year and comes from the Parks and Recreation Dept. He is a homegrown product with knowledge of the culture of the inner city. He is a Marine Corps Veteran where he served in Iraq through two tours of duty and is a UTSA alumni where he studied Public Administration. He is a huge Spurs fan and loves coaching youth sports to introduce gamesmanship as well as life lessons to inner city youth. He believes in working with community members to achieve compliance in the spirit of education and cooperation. Welcome, Manuel!
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2016 has been a very busy and successful year at Katie’s Corner aka the OHP intake counter with over
2100 applications
processed, an all-time high! Thank you to all our applicants and customers for your inquiries, e-mails, and in person submissions. It certainly helps staff when applications are complete, and Katie works hard to make sure customers are informed and know exactly what they need in order for their application to be complete. As a friendly reminder, applications for routine repair and maintenance along with supporting documents may be emailed to [email protected]. You may also call us at 210-207-0035. We look forward to serving you in 2017!
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RFP: Mission District Design Manual
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The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation and the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office are seeking a historic preservation consultant to create a Design Manual specific to the Mission Historic District and Historic Landmarks within the World Heritage Buffer Zone. The Design Manual will be an important tool for ensuring sensitive and compatible development near San Antonio's Missions. Read the solicitation here.
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In observance of City Holidays, OHP Offices will be closed on November 24-25, and December 26 - 30. Possible violations during this time can still be reported by dialing 311. View the full closure schedule on our website.
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Realtors: OHP hosts an annual training which gives YOU a chance to become a Historic House Specialist. Become knowledgeable in local historic preservation code, best practices, and what historic districts can offer your clients.
The next Realtor Training is scheduled for February 2017. This course is eligible for CE credits. Keep an eye out on the SABOR calendar for more details. If you are interested in attending, please contact
Lauren Sage.
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