FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HONORS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM

Sarasota, FL: The federal government will recognize the City of Sarasota for its long standing commitment to historic preservation tomorrow Fri., September 19, 2008 with a reception at the historic Federal Building, 111 S. Orange Avenue at 2pm. Dr. Janet Snyder Matthews, Associate Director of Cultural Resources and Keeper, National Register of Historic Places, will present the City of Sarasota with a ‘Preserve America Community’ designation from the White House, for continued preservation efforts. The presentation is being made on behalf of Mr. John Nau, Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

“ This is a tremendous honor,” said City of Sarasota Senior Planner Clifford Smith. “For Dr. Matthews to carve out time in her busy schedule to visit Sarasota and recognize the City’s efforts to save historic resources, by speaking in an historic building which the City actually preserved --- it’s just wonderful,” said Smith. The Federal Building was constructed in 1934 and 50 years later was designated as an historic structure. The City of Sarasota purchased it in 2001 and ultimately renovated to its current condition.

Members of the historic preservation community throughout the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County are expected to attend the reception, as well as elected officials and government leaders. The event is open to the public.

The City was designated, last March, as a ‘Preserve America Community’, becoming one of just 664 such communities in the nation. The designation allows the City to apply for grant money for projects which promote the continued preservation of cultural and natural heritage. Dr. Matthews will officially present this designation during the reception. A road sign was recently erected on Fruitville Road declaring the City of Sarasota to be a ‘Preserve America Community’.

The City of Sarasota has actively participated in historic preservation since 1977, when it first contracted for a survey of historic structures. In 1983, the Historic Preservation Board was established.

 

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-2613
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com