Islanders Hear Solutions for Keeping Landmark Status
Preservationists Share Historic District Idea, Funding Options
By Karen Gould

Built in 1890 and 1891, the East Bluff cottage Craig Mawr is seen here as it appeared in 1900. The cottage was built by the Walsh family of Chicago and is a vernacular Queen Anne style of architecture with turrets for viewing the lake. (Photographs of the cottage courtesy of Mackinac State Historic Parks)

To protect historic sites and buildings that relay the story of Mackinac Island's past, people have to "want" to do something, said Dr. Jane Busch at a preservation conference at Grand Hotel in May. Having the desire to preserve, she emphasized, is the starting point.

A preservation consultant, Dr. Busch, seven years ago, prepared the nomination to the National Park Service to establish all of Mackinac Island as a historic landmark. She was joined by other preservation, travel, and tourism experts who spoke at the Michigan Historic Preservation Network conference, chaired by Island resident Frank Pompa.

A local historic district ordinance established under Public Act 169 of 1970, said Dr. Busch, would provide the best protection for the Island's historic resources. Established in 1970, PA 169 also allows communities to establish historic districts and historic district commissions. Approximately 60 communities in Michigan have them, she said.

The appearance of the cottage was altered in the early to mid-20th century.

"I realize, though, that adopting an ordinance is a big step for a community to take," she told the Town Crier Tuesday, May 22. "A lot can be done using incentives, education, and zoning, including improving the city's current system of architectural review."

Architectural review procedures, already in place on the Island, should include pre-project photographs of sites and buildings and photographs of nearby properties, said Dr. Busch. Having this additional information available would enable a more comprehensive analysis of construction or remodeling plans.

Island architect Rick Neumann, a conference attendee, agrees.

Educating property owners and the public so they can be better informed about the value of historic structures and the importance of authenticity helps preserve a community's character, he said.

At right: This photograph was taken in 2005 following a complete restoration by new owners Ann and David Levy, who purchased the home in 2000. The East Buff cottage is owned by the Levys, who lease the land from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. Restoration of the cottage followed the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The guidelines are followed for all exterior restoration projects on historic buildings in Mackinac Island State Park.

Mr. Neumann, who performs architectural reviews for Island projects, suggests that applicants provide more information to help make his review more comprehensive. Documents and photographs that show the way a building or a site looks now, compared to what is being proposed, along with photos of the surrounding area, would aid in the process.

When performing an architectural review, Mr. Neumann uses the city's zoning ordinance.

"That's the legality I use to assess a proposed building," he said.

The current ordinance does not prevent demolition, but requiring city approval for demolition of any Island building is a suggestion offered by both Dr. Busch and Mr. Neumann.

The city might consider other options before a building is demolished, said Mr. Neumann, including moving it, which has been a pattern on the Island over the years.

For historic buildings, Dr. Busch said, criteria that more closely models the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation would help the Island retain its historic character.

To assist property owners, federal grants are available to those who seek to renovate National Historic Structures. Landowners who establish conservation easements can receive tax credits.

Mackinac Island does not have to go the way of Chicago's Soldier Field, say national and state preservationists. The 83- year-old football field was stripped of its National Historic Landmark status last year after undergoing major remodeling when its trademark Doric columns were hidden beneath a seating area.

The concern among preservationists is that Mackinac Island may be following a similar path, as historic architecture is being replaced with buildings mimicking Victorian design. The loss of historic authenticity could impact the Island's National Historic Register status, said Dr. Busch.

Preserving the historic character of a site is for the greater good of the community, she said.

"Historic preservation needs to be a part of the master plan," she said, and those guidelines can be conveyed through the zoning ordinance.

The city's master plan has been in a revision process for two years, as progress stalled last summer and no meetings have been held yet this year. Under the existing 1999 plan, a one-paragraph historic section focuses on Market Street, addressing demolition and structural changes.

"Reasonable restrictions on all uses in the district are desired, to ensure preservation of the area's unique and important cultural and architectural legacy. Such restriction could include limitations on demolition or structural alterations, standards for repairs or maintenance, which are sensitive to historic values, and/or special development review processes focused on historic preservation," it reads.

Making Market Street a historic district was proposed in the early 1970s by former Grand Hotel owner W. Stewart Woodfill.

Approximately 83 percent of Mackinac Island is owned by the state park. Any exterior construction or remodeling involving historic buildings on park land must meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks.

"One of the places we draw the line is in the Mackinac Island State Park," said Mr. Porter, "which is to be preserved as it was designed back in 1875 for the enjoyment of the people." One example of following appropriate guidelines in renovation is the Craig Mawr cottage of Ann and David Levy, who have remodeled the house to resemble its original appearance, after it had been modified over the years, Mr. Porter said. After purchasing the cottage in 2000, they were required to follow the Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. In the past decade, under a program promoted by Mackinac Island State Park Chairman Dennis Cawthorne, the commission has established permanent conservation easements with some landowners that preserve properties from development and others that protect scenic views.

By not preserving views and open space, she added, the Island would be "destroying the natural beauty that has drawn people here since the early 19th century."

Property owners who establish easements can receive federal income tax deductions for the value of their easement, and may also receive relief in estate and property taxes.

The Mackinac Conservancy, formed in 2006 by Island residents, also assists landowners with property easements. The group assists property owners who want to prevent or restrict development of the land by future owners.

Zoning can be an effective tool for preserving the historic character of a community, said Dr. Busch. It can control development for the best interest of a community by limiting height, size, use, and density. Zoning also can preserve historic views and landscapes.

The Island's wastewater treatment facility in the woods near the airport is an example of preserving views and landscapes on the Island, said Dr. Busch. While development has to go somewhere, it is better when not located in a visible area.

Restoration funding is available to landowners of historic properties, including a State Historic Restoration tax credit. Since the Island became a National Historic Landmark, only one owner has used a tax credit for renovation work. That work was on the East Bluff Warren cottage known as the "Baby Grand," owned by Dr. Louis and Marilyn Putz.

A natural choice for Mackinac Island would be Preserve America grants, said Dr. Busch. The group helps communities that protect their historic assets and use them for economic development. Also available are Save America's Treasures grants.

To be listed as a National Historic Landmark, a place must have national historic significance.

Themes considered when a site is evaluated for this elite status include people and places, creating social institutions and movements, expressing cultural values, shaping the political landscape, developing the American economy, expanding science and technology, transforming the environment, and the changing role of the United States in the world community,

"All eight of these apply to Mackinac Island," said Dr. Busch, "which kind of gives you a depth and complexity of the history here."