Historic district awards honor Ann Arborites committed to preserving city's past
Upon acceptance of a lifetime achievement award for historic preservation, Ann Arbor resident Rosemarion Blake used the podium Monday night to lament the destruction of seven century-old homes to make way for City Place apartments on Fifth Avenue.
"Something must be done to save the very fine homes we still have," she said. "Once you lose them, they're just really gone, and it's a shame to lose beautiful old houses."
The city of Ann Arbor's planning department handed out a slew of awards Monday night, honoring local efforts to preserve unique pieces of the city's history.
Ann Arbor resident Rosemarion Blake, left, is congratulated after being announced as the 2012 winner of the lifetime achievement award for local historic preservation.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Blake has worked to promote local history by serving on the city's Historic District Commission, Washtenaw County Historical Society, Ann Arbor Historical Foundation, Kempf House Board, Cobblestone Farm Association, and many historic study committees, including one that resulted in publication of a book called "Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor."
She grew up in Ann Arbor and in 1949 married the late Richard Blake, a former Ann Arbor Transportation Authority marketing service coordinator and namesake of the Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor. He passed away in 1989.
Rosemarion Blake worked for many years as an office supervisor at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. Today she remains an active member of her church, Bethel A.M.E., where she has worked to preserve her congregation's rich history.
The following is a list of the other 2012 Historic District Commission Awards announced during the Ann Arbor City Council's meeting Monday night.
Members of the award committee included Patricia Austin, Ina Hanel-Gerdenich, Patrick McCauley, Louisa Pieper, Ellen Ramsburgh, Mark Rueter, Fran Wright, Grace Shackman, Tom Stulberg and Susan Wineburg.
REHABILITATION AWARDS
These are awarded to owners who have rehabilitated their properties in accordance with good preservation practice as established by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
- 1. 1407 Broadway Street - Clifford Williams
- 2. 508 Fourth Street - Martin Soave
- 3. Burton Memorial Tower - The Regents of the University of Michigan
- 4. 519 Third Street - Swati Dutta
- 5. 300 West Huron Street - The Relax Station, Eileen Bristol
PRESERVATION AWARDS
These are presented to owners who have preserved their property for over 10 years of continuous ownership. They also demonstrate good preservation techniques in their maintenance of their homes and/or businesses.
- 6. 1555 Washtenaw Avenue - Holde and Robert Borcherts
- 7. 549 South First Street - Kathy Clark and Mike Anglin
- 8. 1223 Pontiac Trail - Kenneth and Elizabeth Baird
- 9. 1334 Arlington Boulevard - Kenneth and Elizabeth Nesbit
- 10. 2250 Belmont Road - James and Jane Kister
- 11. 1075 Chestnut Road - Peter Hinman
- 12. 1336 Glendaloch Drive - Glenn Watkins
- 13. 356 Hilldale Drive - Myron and Barbara Levine
- 14. 2601 Heather Way - Carol Amster
- 15. 302 East Liberty Street - Herb David
SPECIAL MERIT AWARD
Special Merit Awards were presented to Nancy Deromedi and Tracy Aris for the establishment of the A2Modern group and website.
CENTENNIAL AWARDS
- 1. 100th Anniversary of the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School - Dean Janet A. Weiss
- 2. 100th Anniversary of the Zal Gaz Grotto Club - Monarch Jim Richardson
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
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