Governor Jennifer Granholm is leading the mission to strengthen and revitalize Michigan cities and neighborhoods. The goal of her Cool Cities initiative is to attract and retain a creative, vibrant population that will thrive and contribute to Michigan's economy and sense of community. Historic sites are a key component of a "cool city."

With the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation, Governor Granholm recognizes outstanding historic preservation achievements: homeowners who rehabilitate their homes, developers who transform underutilized historic structures into vital economic assets, academic institutions, archaeologists, educational projects that inspire people to preserve historic buildings, and policy makers who demonstrate commitment to the preservation of historic resources through innovative planning activities.

2007 Awards

2007 Awards overview [PDF]

2007 Awards list of sponsors [PDF]

The 2007 Governor's Awards were presented on Thursday, May 24th, at 9:30 a.m. in the State Capitol rotunda in Lansing.

Award recipients were selected with assistance from the State Historic Preservation Review Board and the State Historic Preservation Office, part of the Michigan Historical Center. A full press release is available.

2007 Award Winners

• Floyd and Todd Wright Builders, Main Street Properties of East Jordan LLC, the City of East Jordan, and Presley Architecture for the rehabilitation of the Votruba Grocery and Porter Lumber Company Buildings [PDF]
• Boiler Works LLC, Hooker/DeJong Architects and Engineers, and the Muskegon Construction Company for the rehabilitation of the Muskegon Boiler Works [PDF]
• Uptown Developments LLC, G.A.V. Associates Architects, Cornerstone Architects and Sorenson Gross Construction for the rehabilitation of the First National Bank and Trust Company Building, Flint [PDF]
• Bill Swanson for the rehabilitation of 1754 Parker, West Village Historic District, Detroit [PDF]
• New Amsterdam Activation I LLC, Quinn Evans Architects, Rossetti Architects, and Jonna Construction Company for the rehabilitation of the Graphic Arts Building, Detroit [PDF]
• Joe Van Esley for the rehabilitation of the Penney House, Canton [PDF]

Previous Award Winners

2006

• Linda and Richard Mueller for the rehabilitation of the Loeb Farm Barn Complex (Castle Farms) near Charlevoix [PDF]
• City of Traverse City, City Opera House Heritage Association, City Opera House LLC, and Quinn Evans Architects for the rehabilitation of the City Opera House in Traverse City [PDF]
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, for the excavation of Saints' Rest archaeological site [PDF]
• General Motors Corporation and Building Conservation Associates, Inc. for the rehabilitation of the General Motors Technical Center in Warren [PDF]
• Jon A. Carlson for the rehabilitation of the B & C Grocery Building in Royal Oak [PDF]
• Dearborn Public Schools and TMP Associates, Inc. for the addition to Fordson High School in Dearborn [PDF]
  
  
• 2006 Awards overview [PDF]
• 2006 Awards list of sponsors [PDF]

2005

• DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society for the Restoration of the DeTour Reef Lighthouse, St. Mary's Canal [PDF]
• David and Barbara Huyser for Multiple Rehabilitations in the Fairmount Square Historic District, Grand Rapids [PDF]
• Finlay Development for the Rehabilitation of the Fidelity Building, Benton Harbor, and the Youth Building, Battle Creek [PDF]
• Schostak Brothers and Company and the Sterling Group for the Rehabilitation of Merchants Row, Detroit [PDF]
• The City of Niles Planning Department, the Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, the Niles Downtown Development Authority, and the Greater Niles Community Development Corporation for the Big Brown Take Down [PDF]
• Samuel and Peter Shaheen for the Rehabilitation of the Temple Theatre-Elf Khurafeh Complex, Saginaw [PDF]

2004

• Big Rapids Housing Commission and Hollander Development [PDF]
• Eric, Tobi, and Ryan Breisach [PDF]
• Escanaba Area Public Schools and Diekema Hamann Architecture [PDF]
• Ann Arbor Township, Barton Village Board of Trustees, Washtenaw County Road Commission and the Citizens for Foster Road Bridge Conservancy [PDF]
• Save Orchestra Hall, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Hall's Generous Donors [PDF]
• Pioneer Construction, Berkey and Gay Furniture Factory and American Seating Factory Complex Rehabilitations [PDF]

2003

• Consumers Energy [PDF]
• Packard Motor Car Foundation, the Ford Motor Land Development Corporation, and Shelby Township [PDF]
• Support the Fort, Western Michigan University, the City of Niles, and the Fort St. Joseph Museum [PDF]
• John and Judith Pulver [PDF]
• Jeff and Ellen Crocket [PDF]

Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
Use and Reproduction Information [PDF]
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