|
The Historic Preservation
Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is pleased to
announce that the City of Dawsonville (Dawson County) is Georgia’s 96th
Certified Local Government (CLG), after the National Park Service, U.S.
Department of the Interior, confirmed the designation.
The City of Dawsonville
passed a local historic preservation ordinance in November 2014 and has a
five-person citizen board serving as its historic preservation commission
(HPC). “Certification will be another avenue to
bring focus to our historic district, open new funding opportunities, and allow
us to become part of the CLG community. Dawsonville is long overdue for some
emphasis on the importance of preserving our heritage and resources and we
believe that becoming a CLG is a great step in accomplishing that goal,” said
Angie Smith, former Councilwoman and current HPC member.
Dawsonville was incorporated on December 10, 1859 and Andrew Glenn, the
County Surveyor, laid out and named the city streets and lots of Dawsonville.
From 1859 to 1860, the existing brick County Courthouse was constructed at
Dawsonville. Today, much of Dawsonville reflects the economic prosperity of the
early twentieth century. At one time it contained several commercial buildings
and the main offices for the gold mining companies that were located throughout
the county. Although Dawsonville was not as heavily populated as other areas of
the County, it was centrally located and has been the only incorporated town in
Dawson County’s history.
The CLG program extends federal
and state preservation programs to the local level, expanding the scope of
local responsibilities and opportunities for preservation. Georgia has the
highest number of CLG-designated communities in the United States.
Participation requires the community to create a preservation ordinance that
establishes a design review commission as well as other state and federal
requirements. Dawsonville is now eligible for federal Historic Preservation
Fund (HPF) grants that are administered by the Historic Preservation Division,
Department of Natural Resources. These
HPF grants may be used for a variety of preservation activities including
historic resource surveys, National Register of Historic Places nominations,
educational activities, marketing purposes, publications, heritage tourism
studies, and predevelopment plans. To
learn more about the CLG program, visit HPD’s website at www.georgiashpo.org/community/clg.
The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of
Natural Resources serves as Georgia’s state historic preservation office. Its mission is to promote the preservation
and use of historic places for a better Georgia. HPD’s programs include archaeology protection
and education, environmental review, grants, historic resource surveys, tax
incentives, the National Register of Historic Places, community planning and
technical assistance.
The mission of the Department of Natural Resources is to sustain, enhance,
protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources for
present and future generations, while recognizing the importance of promoting
the development of commerce and industry that utilize sound environmental
practices.
# # #
For more information contact Certified Local Government Coordinator Sarah Rogers at 770-389-7869 and sarah.rogers@dnr.ga.gov.
For press inquiries contact Historic Preservation Division Outreach Program Manager Allison Asbrock at 770-389-7868 and allison.asbrock@dnr.ga.gov
The above is a news release from the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Releases can be found online at www.georgiashpo.org.
|
