Historic preservation: Embracing the past to enhance Huntsville’s future

HUNTSVILLE – With a panoramic view of downtown and beyond as a backdrop, the City of Huntsville kick-started the upcoming Historic Preservation Month with a rooftop ceremony Thursday morning.

City officials spoke as plans for the occasion were announced, a campaign which salutes the people who save historic places as well as buildings and sites of local significance with an emphasis on downtown Huntsville.

Spearheaded  by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Preservation Month is celebrated each May to heighten awareness about the buildings and places that are part of the community’s shared history. 

“There are dozens of individuals in our community who generously invest their time, passion and resources into safeguarding our rich history,” City Preservation Planner Katie Stamps said. “As we kick off our new campaign, it’s important we honor the custodians who not only preserve, but also breathe life into our cherished spaces.” 

Mayor Tommy Battle said there are economic benefits to preserving Huntsville’s downtown as a thriving city center attracts commercial and residential projects as well as quality-of-life amenities. 

“Preservation is vital to the city’s history and the health of the local economy,” he said. “Next month, we’ll have informative events that celebrate those efforts, and we hope our citizens participate.” 

Preservation Month events: 

• “The Economics of Historic Preservation’’ with Donovan Rypkema, May 2, 11  a.m., Ridley Hall, Church of the Nativity, 208 Eustis Ave. Huntsville’s historic city center is widely recognized as a preservation success story. To help explore more opportunities for preservation and adaptive reuse projects across Huntsville, the city invited Rypkema, principal of  PlaceEconomics, to speak at a public event about downtown, neighborhood and commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic buildings. Based in Washington, D.C., PlaceEconomics is a real estate and economic development consulting firm, specializing in the nexus of historic preservation and economics. Attendees are invited to bring their lunch. 

• Five Points Porch Fest, May 4, 4-9 p.m., Pratt Avenue. Five porches on Pratt Avenue will host musicians from Huntsville, Nashville and the Shoals for a unique evening of live performances. Bring a blanket, chair and cooler to enjoy the show. Please do not park on Pratt Avenue.
• Footsteps of History: Downtown Historic Free Walking Tours, May 11 and 18, 10 a.m. Led by Stamps, the free walking tours bring to life the evolution and history of Huntsville’s downtown commercial district from the city’s earliest settlers to the Space Race and beyond. Attendees will learn about local history, notable citizens and a diverse collection of architectural styles. Central to the tour is how urban renewal impacted Huntsville’s city center and how those changes were a catalyst for national and local preservation movements. Tours begin and end at the historic First National Bank at 216 West Side Square and last approximately 90 minutes. Participants should bring only what they can comfortably carry (water, sunscreen, light snacks).
• Preservation Happy Hour, May 16, 5-6 p.m., Baker & Able. Interested in history and preservation? Meet and network with like-minded professionals, property owners, advocates and volunteers at Baker & Able, the rooftop bar at 106 Jefferson Hotel. Hosted by City Preservation Planner Katie Stamps, this casual event is open to the public and does not require tickets or reservations. Beverages and small plates will be available for purchase. 

The city invites residents to participate on social media by sharing their favorite historic places using the hashtag #PeopleSavingPlacesHSV. Learn more by following the hashtag #PeopleSavingPlacesHSV and visiting HHPC’s Facebook and Instagram.