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Calling All Civic-Minded Preservationists
March/April 2017
By A. Hayes
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Each area of San Diego has an associated volunteer community planning group. These groups act as the official advisory board to the City of San Diego for such things as plan updates, zoning amendments, and development projects. Most of these volunteer boards meet monthly. Several communities, such as Uptown and North Park, have ad hoc and subcommittees that dive deeper into specific community issues, such as historic preservation and community plans.
Here is where you come in! These advisory groups are composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, and who represent residential and commercial interests. However, historic preservation needs to be better represented on these boards, to ensure that historic resources and their treatment are on the community's radar and list of priorities. Preservationists can also convey to their planning groups the ways historic preservation benefits communities, such as increasing property values, preserving a sense of place, maintaining walkable neighborhoods and securing our architectural history.
Please consider being a pro-active preservationist by volunteering for a community group where you can promote preservation and perhaps educate your neighbors. If you live beyond the city limits, the County also offers opportunities to get involved.
Today is a concerning time for our country. The future of the National Park Service is uncertain; National Park acreage could be sold for oil and gas drilling, thereby jeopardizing historic and cultural landmarks. Historic tax credits could be eliminated. For these reasons and more, NOW is the time to get involved with your community (and your country, for that matter). We need you to advocate for historic preservation in San Diego and to focus public attention on retaining our heritage for future generations.
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