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2010 Historic Restoration Tour

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2010 Historic Restoration Tour

Now in its sixth year, Restore Omaha is an organization that teaches and motivates the public to restore and preserve older properties. This year’s tour highlights 10 restoration projects, both under construction and complete, in Omaha’s Downtown and Little Italy Neighborhoods. Sites include:

  1. Scottish Rite – 202 S. 20th St. (20th and Douglas Streets)
  2. New York Life Building (Kutak Rock) – 17th and Farnam Streets
  3. St. Mary Magdalene Church – 109 S. 19th St. (19th and Dodge Streets)
  4. A.K. Riley Building (Pinnacle Bank) – 1016 Douglas on the Mall
  5. Board of Certification, Inc. Building – 1411 and 1415 Harney St.
  6. Medlar Building – 416 and 418 S. 14th St.
  7. Gahm-Block Building – 1208 Howard
    Old Mercer Hotel. Carl Sandberg once stayed here.
  8. Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot – 1215 Jones St.
  9. Fleuville – 822 Pacific St.
  10. Bella Vita Building – 614 Pierce St.

Besides these properties, the Tour will highlight unique neighborhood sites in a “windshield” tour.

“This year’s Tour allows attendees to get inside several historic downtown buildings plus see how two families have transformed former commercial buildings into homes,” said Restore Omaha Chair Nicole Malone. “This particular lineup shows the wealth of what has been preserved and restored in Omaha’s downtown area and neighboring Little Italy. The business owners and residents in both of these communities have grasped the importance of keeping Omaha’s inner core alive and strong.

Tickets are $10 each or two for $15. Purchase tickets in advance at www.restoreomaha.org or the day of the tour at the Scottish Rite, 202 S. 20th St. (20th and Douglas Streets). All proceeds support restoration and preservation educational efforts in the area.

The annual Restore Omaha Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Metropolitan Community College, South Omaha Campus. Return to www.restoreomaha.org for conference details as they become available.

For questions about Restore Omaha, contact 402-968-3349 or nmalone@thearchitecturaloffices.com. The conference is hosted by Metropolitan Community College with major support provided by The Reader, Pinnacle Bank and The Architectural Offices.

Conference Resources

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Restore Omaha Recommended Book List [PDF]

From Rags to Riches - The Restoration of a Grand Victorian

Tim Reeder, NP Dodge Real Estate

Join Tim as he takes us on the journey of how he restored his Victorian home back to its original grandeur: from a condemned building to a neighborhood showpiece and all the stories in-between.

The Restoration of a Grand Victorian photos [PDF]

Downtown Revitalization, Sustainability, and Historic Preservation

Donovan D. Rypkema, PlaceEconomics

Join Donovan, a nationally renowned economist, as he presents ways to build a sustainable future through historic preservation. Donovan specializes in the revitalization of business districts, community development and the economics of restoring historic properties.

Restore Omaha Conference Uncovers Jewels

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[via Neighborhood News ]
Tim Reeder's Restored Victorian
Tim Reeder's Restored Victorian

You don’t have to be batty about bungalows or crazy for colonials to check out the Restore Omaha Conference planned for Friday, Mar. 5 and Saturday, Mar. 6 at the Metro Community College South Omaha Campus.

Those interested in the practice and techniques of restoration will be squarely in their element at the annual event, but the gathering also offers a host of related opportunities for others drawn to such diverse topics as planting Victorian gardens or the subterranean history of Omaha’s rumrunners.

Restore Omaha to Give Right Kind of Advice for Maintaining Older Homes

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[from Destination Midtown]
Older homes, like those in Midtown, need a special kind of love. Built with meticulous attention to detail by genuine craftsman, they've stood the test of time for generations. But without the right kind of maintenance, they can quickly fall into disrepair.

2010 Restore Omaha Conference

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Restore Omaha is a conference to promote the practice of historic restoration and to provide educational opportunities and information to the public and professionals.

Conference sessions followed by the AIA logo are eligible for AIA continuing education credits.

Download Conference Schedule [PDF]
Campus Map [PDF]

Opening Reception

Friday, March 5, 7 – 10 pm

Lucile’s Old Market, 510 South 10th St.

Sneak Peak from 7-8pm of

Frank’s Pieces of the Past, 814 South 14th St.

Lucile Schaaf deemed the "Orange Lady" was an Omaha Icon. She started salvaging pieces from old buildings in the 1960's and left a legacy in her historic Old Market home. Frank Horejsi, an architectural salvager since the 1980's has the most remarkable salvage collection in Omaha. You do not want to miss this experience when Frank opens his warehouse to Restore Omaha.

Conference Schedule

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Metropolitan Community College
South Omaha Campus - Industrial Training Center
27th and Q St.

8 am – 9 am Registration

SOC, Industrial Training Center Lobby

8 am – 3 pm Exhibitor Area Opens

 

9:00 – 9:30 am Opening Session

From Rags to Riches - The Restoration of a Grand Victorian

Tim Reeder, NP Dodge Real Estate

Join Tim as he takes us on the journey of how he restored his Victorian home back to its original grandeur: from a condemned building to a neighborhood showpiece and all the stories in-between.

9:45 – 10:45 am Breakout Sessions

 

Stained Glass Restoration

Valerie Batt, Painted Light Stained Glass

Valerie discusses the challenges of maintaining stained glass, repairs the homeowner can do themselves, and when it’s time for outside help.

Restoration of a Commercial Building

David Lawrence, Craftsman, Lawrence Painting

David shares his challenging adventures of discovering, purchasing, and restoring a collection of commercial buildings that are now helping to revitalize a small Iowa community.

Victorian Gardens with Native Plants 

Addy Kinghorn, MCC Horticulture Faculty

Addy examines the characteristics of the Victorian period garden and suggests local plants that will flourish in an Omaha Victorian landscapes.

How to Write a National Register Nomination

Jesse Nunn, Nebraska Historic Preservation Office

Can my property be listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Jesse walks through the steps of how a property owner can list their building on the local or national register of historic places. She will also answer questions regarding your own specific property.

Glued, Screwed, and Exhausted: Do’s and Don’ts on Preservation Projects 

Cindy Tooker, AIA, LEED AP, Leo A Daly Company

Do you have a preservation project and don’t know where to begin? Join Cindy, a preservation architect and home restorer, for helpful hints for planning your own preservation projects.

Window Re-glazing and Wood Consolidation

Don Browers, The Old House Mechanic and Tim Christianson, Craftsman

Join Don as he explains the process of re-glazing windows and Tim as he walks through the simple steps of wood consolidation.

10:45 – 11:15 am Break

 

11:15 am – 1:00 pm Lunch & Keynote Speaker

Downtown Revitalization, Sustainability, and Historic Preservation 

Donovan D. Rypkema, PlaceEconomics

Join Donovan, a nationally renowned economist, as he presents ways to build a sustainable future through historic preservation. Donovan specializes in the revitalization of business districts, community development and the economics of restoring historic properties.

1:15 – 2:15 pm Breakout Sessions

 

Heritage Nebraska Main Street Communities

Elizabeth Chase, Director, HNMSP

Join Elizabeth as she shares preservation success stories occurring along many of Nebraska’s Main Streets. Learn about Main Street’s preservation-based strategy for rebuilding places and strengthening businesses for sustainable, vibrant, and unique communities.

Selecting, Bidding, and Hiring a Contractor 

Jared Gerber, AIA, Gerber Architecture

Remodeling your master bathroom? Finishing your basement? Learn from a residential architect how to work with contractors throughout your remodeling project.

Paint Restoration on a Victorian Home

David Lawrence, Craftsman, Lawrence Painting

David discusses the causes of deterioration, methods for repair of exterior wood, and the best ways to preserve and restore painted wood exterior elements on a grand Victorian home.

Nebraska Historic Preservation Tax Credits 

Grant Landreth, Nebraska Historical Preservation Office

Is there any way I can get money to help restore my historic home or business? What is the VIP program? Are there federal tax incentives? Join staff from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office to learn ways to help make it easier for you to afford to restore a historic property.

History of Omaha’s Historic Apartment Buildings 

Jennifer Honebrink, AIA, LEED AP, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture

Join Jennifer as she talks about the colorful history of tenements, flats, and apartment buildings in Omaha and shares the wide variety of rental housing in Omaha through the years.

Hands-on Plaster Repair 

Dick Grace, Grace Plastering Inc

Join Dick Grace in a hands-on demonstration of methods to repair historic plasterwork. Grace shows how to salvage loose and cracked plaster and how to prepare plaster walls for painting.

2:15 – 2:30 pm Break

 

2:30 – 3:30 pm Breakout Sessions

 

2009 Joslyn Castle Trust Designer Show House

Brandeis Mansion Restoration Team

Join the Construction Team as they chronicle the glorious restoration of the Brandeis Mansion for the 2009 Joslyn Castle Trust Designer Showhouse.

The Economic Power of Restoration 

Donovan D. Rypkema, PlaceEconomics

Join Donovan as he looks at the multitude of values of historic properties, ranging from aesthetic and cultural to political and environmental, and their long term affects on the economic power of historic preservation.

Omaha’s Electrical Code 

Terry Scholl, Retired Electrical Inspector

Join Terry a former city electrical inspector as he gives us a reprise of his highest attended Restore Omaha session from 2005 on the electrical code and historic houses. It’s electrifying!

Boot Legging and Omaha

Louie Marcuzzo, Owner of Louie M’s (Burger Lust)

Was your house used as a hideaway during prohibition? Is there a mysterious brick tunnel running under your basement floor? Join Louie for a spirited look back at Omaha’s “Rum Running” history.

Double Hung Windows: Repairing Weights

Don Browers, The Old House Mechanic

Do you have broken window weights in double hung windows? Are your windows jammed closed? Do you have to prop them open? Don demonstrates the
materials, tools, and methods used to repair broken window weights safely.

Hands-on Stucco Repair

Dick Grace, Grace Plastering Inc

Dick Grace demonstrates the repair of stucco on the exterior of older properties.

3:30–4:00 pm Restoration JAM! and Closing Reception

Join conference participants, experts and speakers to share restoration projects and solutions at the Restoration JAM! and Closing Reception. If you have a project you would like to share go to www.restoreomaha.com.

2010 Conference Sponsors

2010 Conference Exhibitors

  • ABC Roofs
  • Accurate Floors, Inc.
  • Bemis Park Neighborhood Association
  • City of Omaha CSO Project
  • City of Omaha Planning Department
  • City Sprouts
  • Douglas County Historical Society
  • Gifford Park Neighborhood Association
  • Green Omaha Coalition
  • Habitat Restore
  • Hanscom Park Neighborhood Association
  • Heritage Nebraska/Main Street
  • Joslyn Castle Trust
  • Landmarks Inc.
  • Lawrence Paint Company
  • Life Home Services
  • Energy Auditor
  • Ludowici Clay Roof Tile
  • Marvin Windows
  • Midtown Neighborhood Alliance
  • Millard Lumber
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Orchard Hill Neighborhood Association
  • Rebuilding Together
  • Rybin Plumbing
  • Spencerworks
  • Stained Glass Restoration
  • Thrasher Basement Systems, Inc.
  • US Environmental Protection Agency
  • USGBC NE Flatwater Chapter

Donovan Rypkema to be 2010 Conference Keynote Speaker

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Restore Omaha is pleased to announce the keynote speaker for its 5th annual Restore Omaha Conference, March 5-6, 2010, will be Donovan Rypkema, an industry leader in the economics of downtown and neighborhood commercial revitalization and reuse. The annual Conference provides information and resources to help property owners and others revitalize their residences, commercial properties, and neighborhood districts.

Donovan Rypkema, principal of Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm PlaceEconomics, specializes in services to public and non-profit sector clients who are dealing with downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic structures.