[Source: Marshall Whitmire and Nicole A. Woodman, Department of Geography, Planning & Recreation, Northern Arizona University] -- Monday, April 24, 2006 will be a critical day for continuing efforts to preserve and enhance Flagstaff's cultural resources, including historic districts, sites (esp. archaeological), buildings, other structures, and objects. After many months of careful development work, an extensive proposal for Heritage Resource Preservation will be made to the Flagstaff City Council at its 4 p.m. meeting at City Hall. The public is invited to attend.Scheduled to be the first agenda item, the concept proposal will be presented by Karl Eberhard, Flagstaff's Urban Designer, using a creative and extensive PowerPoint presentation. A major emphasis of the proposed new program are the very significant sustainable economic benefits to Flagstaff and its local businesses that can result if our cultural heritage is preserved and becomes an even more central part of the city's tourism industry.
Currently, there is very little, if any, protection for even the most noteworthy of our cultural resources. In fact, under current regulations, the city would immediately have to issue a demolition permit for a building on the National Register of Historic Places if it were requested by the property owner. Without the development and implementation of the provisions of the proposal, Flagstaff's substantial cultural resources will continue to be extremely vulnerable to compromise and loss. With it, Flagstaff will be positioned to be a leader in heritage preservation in the state. For a copy of the proposal document and/or PowerPoint presentation, contact Karl Eberhard at 928-779-7632, ext. 7268.
