CHENEY — Historic preservation efforts are facing both challenges and opportunities as the community grapples with maintaining its architectural heritage while accommodating modern needs. The National Park Service sent a survey to local governments to see if there were any problems with implementing the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation.
“I think it’s part of a larger overview,” local preservation advocate Susan Beeman said. “Historic preservation has been a thing since the mid-1970s. They don’t change drastically, but sometimes when new material comes, there is a need for feedback.
“They want to know if the standards are too restrictive or if there are common problems.”
Historic landmarks here are listed on the Cheney Register of Historic Places, and adherence to preservation standards often determines eligibility for grant funding, Beeman said.
“Usually, adherence to the standards is the condition for any kind of grant funding.”
“I think the biggest challenge is to apply them consistently, case after case,” Beeman said. “They’re intended to cover a large variety of situations.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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