2020 Louisiana Preservation Conference - POSTPONED

***** Out of concern for the health and safety due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation is postponing the Louisiana Preservation Conference scheduled for April 16 & 17 to a later time (dates to be determined). *****

Any registrants to date will receive their refund.

41st Annual Louisiana Preservation Conference featuring educational sessions and networking opportunities in Monroe & West Monroe - April 16 & 17, 2020. 

Student Scholarships Available - Application and more information available here - Due March, 20 2020

Early Bird Registration Open Now Through March 28, 2020 (code: ouachita_20) for discount on general registration.  

Accomodations - Visit www.monroe-westmonroe.org for options - Attendees are responsible for their own reservations.  Suggested Hotels on Mane Street in West Monroe (near Ike Hamilton Center) 

Check back for updates on speakers, sessions, tours, and more.

Thursday April 16, 2020

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit and National Register Seminar: The Deeper Cuts 3.0 * (1:00PM - 4:00PM)

This three-hour seminar delves into some of the more advanced topics associated with historic rehabilitation tax credits and National Register of Historic Places listing, and creates the opportunity for public agencies, private owners and developers, architects, consultants, tax professionals, and nonprofit organizations to expand upon their basic knowledge of the programs. During the course of the seminar, expert-led presentations will provide answers to in-depth questions, the latest in best practices, and an open discussion about HTCs and the National Register process.

• Alison Saunders, Tax Incentives Director
• Emily Ardoin, National Register Coordinator
• The Palace - 220 Desiard St, Monroe, LA 71201

Three Local Tours * (1:00PM - 3:00PM) 

All tours last approximately 1.5-2 hours.  

Layton Castle & South Grand

• One of Monroe’s most impressive landmarks, Layton Castle, began around 1814 as a raised cottage for Swiss immigrant, Judge Henry Bry. Subsequent generations of the Layton Family added their touch to the house over the next hundred years, resulting in today’s impressive brick structure. Explore a wide variety of architectural styles on a walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood, led by Lestar Martin and ending with a tour of the Cooley House.
• Walking tour begins at 1 PM at Layton Castle – 1133 South Grand Street, Monroe

Mid-Mod Monroe

• Mid-century architecture is represented in a variety of buildings in Monroe. Most notably are the Mid-Mod residences in the northwest portion of the city, near Bayou Desiard. Join us as we explore the interiors and exteriors of some of Monroe’s best Mid-Mod designs.
• Self-driving tour starts at 1 PM at Temple B’Nai Israel – 2400 Orell Place, Monroe

Cultural Vistas

• Monroe and West Monroe are known as the Twin Cities and continue to incorporate public art, historic preservation and streetscape improvements into their downtowns. Experience ’s Riverside Cultural District and the West Monroe Cultural District and discuss the potentials for further growth.
• Shuttle tour begins at 1 PM at The Palace – 220 Desiard Street, Monroe
• Limited # of seats available, update coming soon

Preservation Party & Awards Ceremony * (6:00PM - 9:00PM)

Connect with conference attendees with a sample of local food and drink, art, live music, and more – plus presentation of annual preservation awards! More updates to follow! 

• 2020 Award Categories 
  • Main Street Award
  • Education Award
  • Leadership Award
  • Organizational Excellence Award
  • Stewardship Award
  • Diverse Heritage Award
  • Living Trades Award
  • Louisiana Heritage Media Award
  • Sue Turner Preservationist of the Year Award
  • Winnie Byrd Preservationist Extraordinaire Award
• Alley Park in West Monroe (Intersection of Trenton & Natchitoches) 

*Additional Fee to Conference Registration 

Friday April 17, 2020

Investor Breakfast (7:00AM - 9:00AM)

• The goal of the Investor’s Breakfast is to encourage economic growth and historic rehabilitation in vacant/blighted buildings across the state. This will increase the local tax base, foster tourism and create continuing jobs and sales.
• Included with general registration, or as individual event
• Cooley House - 1011 S Grand Street Monroe, Louisiana 71202

Conference Welcome (9:30AM - 10:15AM)

• Sand Marmillion, LTHP Board President
• Kristin Sanders, Assisstant Secretary, Office of Cultural Development - LA State Division of Historic Preservation 
• More to be announced 
• The Palace - 220 Desiard St, Monroe, LA 71201

Concurrent Session #1 (10:30AM - 11:30AM)

Main Street Manager's Meeting 

• Louisiana Main Street directors and volunteers will have an opportunity to meet with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser to share the successes of their historic downtown revitalization efforts and to receive a statewide update from him. In addition, Louisiana’s Nationally Accredited Main Street organizations will receive certificates from the Lt. Governor. (Attendance by invitation only)
• Ray Scriber, Director of Louisiana Main Street
• Location Coming Soon 

3-D Modeling – a New Tool for Preservation

• Students from the Delgado Architectural/Design Construction Technology program work with new technologies to document and study the built environment applied to construction, maintenance, renovation, and modernization of historic structures. Case studies from community projects will be highlighted to learn more about how this technology can be used more in the historic preservation field.
• Christine Alvarado and student presenters, Delgado Community College
• The Palace - 220 Desiard St, Monroe, LA 71201

"That Ms. Jane, She Don't Play" - Historic Sites as Movie Locations

• Filming is a primary source of income for Evergreen Plantation in St. John Parish. Jane Boddie shares an overview of how “Hollywood” works, details about drafting contracts that are in the best interest of historic sites and their owners, as well as who’s responsible for what.
• Jane Boddie, Evergreen Plantation 
• Location Coming Soon 

Lunch & Keynote Address (11:45AM - 1:15PM)

Keynote Speaker: Jonathan Foret, South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center Commission

More information coming soon

• The Hub Music  Hall - 201 Washington St, Monroe, LA 71201

Travel to West Monroe for remainder of the Conference Sessions 

Concurrent Session #2 (1:45PM - 2:45PM)

Cleaning Up to Restore: Addressing Environmental Issues at Historic Properties

• Redeveloping historic properties can revitalize downtowns, neighborhoods and rural communities but those efforts are often hindered by environmental issues such as lead based paint, asbestos, underground storage tanks, and contamination from past uses. During this session, Rebecca Otte, the Statewide Brownfields and Voluntary Remediation Program Coordinator with the Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality, will discuss resources and best practices for addressing environmental concerns at vacant and abandoned properties to facilitate their reuse. 
• Rebecca Otte, LDEQ Brownfield and VRP Coordinator
• Jennifer Schatzle, LDEQ Brownfield and VRP Technical Liaison
• Location Coming Soon 

A Lasting Legacy: The Influence of Chinese Immigrants & Architecture in Louisiana

• This session will cover the history and architectural influence of Chinese immigrants throughout Louisiana.  During Reconstruction, these immigrants brought with them their culture and language, creating an architectural dialogue still visible in our state – sometimes only as a ghost sign.   Learn from case studies including Edward Tsoi’s Schweggman's and Chinese Presbyterian Church in Mid-City New Orleans (recent tax credit project). 
• Ashley Gaudlip, State Division of Historic Preservation 
• Location Coming Soon 

Guidelines on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

• Description 
• Presenter
• Location Coming Soon 

Concurrent Session #3 (3:00PM - 4:00PM)

Guerrilla Preservation & Placemaking

• This session will bring together three Cultural District representatives to disucss how they have approached preservation and revitalization in their communities.  Learn about their unusual and creative tactics from across Louisiana 

• George Marks, Visual Artist & Social Sculptor - Arnaudville Deux Bayous Cultural District

• Tori Davis, Main Street Director/Community Coordinator - Ruston Cultural District

• Tina Shelvin-Bingham, Lafayette Habitat for Humanity - McComb Veazey Cultural District

• Location Coming Soon 

Stories from Community Landmarks: Cemeteries & Masonic Halls

• All communities share similar attributes.  Many have Masonic Halls and Cemeteries.  This session will review not only the history of these local landmarks but how they have been highlighted to tell community stories in new and different ways.  
• Location Coming Soon 
• Presentation 1: Talking Headstones: Educating the living about the dead 
  •  We can learn a lot from the dead.  This session will take you step by step on how to research your community’s cemeteries to implement interpretive information and create successful tours.   
  • Lora Peppers and Cyndy Roberston, Ouachita Parish Public Library
• Presentation 2: Masonic Buildings in Louisiana: Their History & Community Importance
  • This session will highlight the stories and histories behind many iconic Masonic buildings across Louisiana.  Attendees will see how many continue to operate while others have been adaptively reused.  Learn how to find hidden gems from both the histories of the structures and the organizations’ members.
  • Erica Gulledge and Wilson Cook, Monroe Scottish Rite

The Section 106 Review Process and Community Engagement

This session will look at how the Section 106 process has been actively used in projects across Louisiana. Case studies will review how this tool has been applied to historic sites and districts.  Panelists will highlight a current project and its community outreach in Old South Baton Rouge.

• Nicole Hobson-Morris, Executive Director, Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation
• Carey Coxe, Environmental Impact Manager, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
• Brittany Marshall-Zeno, Executive Director, Old South Baton Rouge Economic Redevelopment Group
• Location Coming Soon