Post #280854 by Swamp Tiki on Thu, Jan 25, 2007 3:57 AM

Ohana,

This is really merging into a very proactive effort. Preservation advocacy is the only way to save the physical elements of our past that really mean something. The average community official has hard time thinking of mid-century architecture as historic. Mainly because a lot of them were around when they the buildings were constructed. This is a factor that is debated in many states, and a tactic developers use to destroy them. Many preservation offices are mounting efforts to promote awareness. The key to landmark status is the building should be at least 50 years old or a unique (rare) example of a particular building style,a product of a master builder, or a unique defining element of the community in which it resides. This designation is not only for a building's exterior elements, it works for historic interiors as well. George Washington may not have slept here but Mid-Century (Googie) architecture still defines American cultural history.

Contacting HPAC (Historic Preservation Action Committee) is another option for this effort. This a political lobbying group that promotes historic preservation issues on the state and federal level. This information is on-line, google it. They are very active here in the Eastern U.S. Georgia HPAC is very active and gaining support daily.