Oct. 18, 2006

Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries Director Dr. William Anderson today announced the hiring of Kelly Larson to fill the vacant position of Michigan Main Street (MMS) architect in the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). She will join the SHPO staff on Monday, Oct. 23.

Larson, selected through a national search, will provide architectural design services to the 13 Michigan Main Street communities - Boyne City, Calumet, Clare, Grand Haven, Howell, Iron Mountain, Ishpeming, Lansing's Old Town, Marshall, Midland, Muskegon, Niles and Portland - where property owners and the cities collaborate to rehabilitate and revive their downtowns. The SHPO and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) jointly fund the MMS architect position and the Michigan Main Street program is administered by the MSHDA.

Larson currently serves as the program manager for the Boyne City Main Street program, a position she has held for the last three years. As Boyne City's first program manager, she helped lead and guide the program to its current success. Boyne City Main Street was named 2006 program of the year during the Downtown Revitalization Conference hosted by MSHDA in Kalamazoo this past April.

"Ms. Larson's solid architectural background working with historic buildings and her experience directing the Boyne City program will surely be assets to our department and to the Michigan Main Street communities she'll serve," said Dr. Anderson. "Filling this position is a clear signal of HAL's and the MSHDA's commitment to the Michigan Main Street program. We are very pleased to welcome Kelly to the team."

Larson, who earned a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree from Kansas State University, worked on the restoration of the Kansas Statehouse while employed with a private architecture firm. She also has national and international experience in evaluating and recording historic structures through photography, hand drawings and computer-generated drawings.

Larson will educate the Main Street communities about good design and will provide architectural services to at least three property owners in each community each year for five years. In addition, she will be able to share information on financial incentive programs administered by both the SHPO and MSHDA for building rehabilitation projects.

A powerful economic development tool, the Main Street program works with communities to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial areas. Founded in historic preservation, the Main Street approach was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation more than 25 years ago to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities' built environment, through a program of good design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization.

The State Historic Preservation Office (www.michigan.gov/shpo) is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Library of Michigan, Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).