Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) today announced the issuance of a Program Comment that provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an alternative way to comply with its responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act regarding its vacant and underutilized properties.

In May 2017, then-VA Secretary David Shulkin emphasized the need for VA to develop “different types of strategic partnerships” for the reduction of its vacant and underutilized properties. In response, the ACHP and VA have worked together to develop this Program Comment that allows VA to undergo an expedited review process as VA seeks to find uses for those properties.

On the Erasure of History

by Luis Hoyos, Expert Member ACHP

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we must ensure historic preservation helps tell the story of all Americans. An important historic site to Latinos is Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles, California. It is one of the five high schools that participated in the 1968 Blowouts–when young Latinos rose up to protest bad schools.

Members of the ACHP met October 4 at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. for their fall business meeting. In the midst of a busy day in the Senate and at the Capitol, members engaged in a wide-ranging group of topics. In addition to awarding the ACHP-HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation to the Rosenwald Courts Apartments in Chicago, Illinois, members also discussed their upcoming strategic planning and procedural changes regarding unassembled meetings, and the confirmation of the new chairman.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) today announced Chicago’s Rosenwald Courts Apartments project, once home to record producer Quincy Jones, boxer Joe Louis, and Olympian Jesse Owens, as the recipient of the 2018 ACHP/HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

This annual award recognizes developers, organizations, and agencies for their success in advancing the goals of historic preservation, while at the same time providing affordable housing and/or expanded economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Executive Director John M. Fowler today announced Druscilla J. Null has been named director of the Office of Preservation Initiatives. Null has been serving as acting director since April 2018.

“We are happy to have Dru assume this leadership role after her many years of exemplary work at the ACHP,” Fowler said. “Her depth of knowledge and experience in policy development and legislative analysis will be critical to the ACHP as we work toward promoting the social, economic, and environmental benefits of historic preservation.”