The previous blog post below gives background on understanding the current problem the City of Mansfield is having with complying with the Preservation Act.
In June 2009 the Richland County Historical Society requested Consulting Party status in Section 106 Review of federally funded projects under the city's Community Development Department via official letter to the head of the department. In July 2009 the Historical Society requested a list of the adresses of federally funded rehab projects and demolitions being planned via official letter. Neither request has been acknowledged or responded to by the city, although City Council has approved at least two batches of demolitions in recent meetings, and reportedly about 80 are planned, using Neighborhood Stabilization Funds.
NSP funds are on a fast track, and if not spent correctly and within the deadline framework, I understand it could influence our ability to get round 2 funds. With Community Development stonewalling the Historical Society for the last 4 1/2 months there may come a day when the city wakes up to its responsibilities under the Preservation Act, realizes they have botched the process and can't get OHPO approval for their projects, and blame the delay or failure of the process on the Historical Society.
My purpose of belaboring my blog with this sad tale is to head off the blame game when this comes to pass. We have made repeated attempts to inform the city of their legal responsibility to respond and resolve this. We have worked through coucil members, the Ohio Preservation Office in Columbus, and the Department of HUD.
It now comes down to waiting and hoping that somehow this gets worked out.
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