FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Contact:
Wendi Lewis, Marketing and Public Relations Manager
wendi.lewis@ahc.alabama.gov, 334-230-2680
February
19, 2021
Prattville Becomes A Certified Local Government
(Montgomery, AL)
The Alabama Historical Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, announces
the latest municipality to join the Certified Local Government program.
On December 21,
2020, the National Park Service (NPS) in Washington, D.C. certified the city of
Prattville as Alabama’s newest Certified Local Government.
A Certified
Local Government (CLG) is a town or city that demonstrates its commitment to preserving
what is important from the past for future generations through a partnership
with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Alabama Historical Commission
(AHC). A town or city becomes a CLG by enacting a
special historic preservation ordinance, enforcing the ordinance through a
local preservation commission, and meeting minimum standards for certified
local governments as determined by the National Park service and the Alabama
Historical Commission. Only cities and
towns with a comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance can adopt a preservation
ordinance, one of the cornerstones of the CLG program.
The Alabama Historical
Commission receives an annual appropriation from the Federal Historic
Preservation Fund (HPF) and is required to grant at least 10% of their funding
to CLGs. These grants can fund a wide variety of historic preservation projects
such as architectural surveys, National Register nominations, rehabilitation
work, design guidelines, educational programs, training, structural
assessments, and feasibility studies.
Historic
preservation has proven economic, environmental, and social benefits. Studies
show that historic districts maintain higher property values, less population
decline, more walkability and greater sense of community. Through a public
process, cities can opt to have more local control over development in locally
designated historic districts.
Prattville joins
a network of Certified Local Governments across the United States. The CLG
program encourages decision-making about historic preservation at the local
level with input from citizens and local government. Alabama has 31 CLGs across
the state. For a complete list please visit https://ahc.alabama.gov/CLG.aspx.
“We are proud to
Welcome Prattville as the 31st addition to Alabama’s network of
Certified Local Governments and look forward to continuing to support its
preservation efforts through our professional staff and through the CLG grant
program,” said Eddie Griffith, Alabama Historical Commission Chairman. “Prattville’s
commitment to preservation is creating a vibrant downtown district attracting
both residents and visitors.”
Founded in 1839
as a manufacturing town, Prattville still retains many historic structures
throughout its quaint, walkable downtown. Prattville’s significant history was recognized
by the Alabama Historical Commission and the National Park Service when the
downtown was listed to the National Register of Historic Places on August 30,
1984. Listed as the Daniel Pratt Historic District, it covers 140 acres and consists
of over two hundred properties representing a diverse collection of commercial,
industrial, residential, and institutional architecture.
About the
Alabama Historical Commission
Located in historic downtown
Montgomery at 468 S. Perry Street, the Alabama Historical Commission is the
state historic preservation agency for Alabama. The agency was created by an
act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission to protect,
preserve and interpret Alabama’s historic places. AHC works to accomplish its
mission through two fields of endeavor: Preservation and promotion of
state-owned historic sites as public attractions; and, statewide programs to assist
people, groups, towns, and cities with local preservation activities. For a
complete list of programs and properties owned and operated by the AHC, hours
of operation, and admission fees please visit ahc.alabama.gov.
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