The Preserve Iowa Summit is coming to downtown Newton! The conference, taking place June 6 - 8, is the state’s premier conference for professionals and volunteers involved in historic preservation. Those who attend will have opportunities to learn about a broad range of preservation topics from historic tax credits to advocacy and more. Saturday will be devoted to sessions of particular interest to those working in historical societies and local history museums.
The 2019 them is "Reinvention through Rehabilitation" and draws on Newton’s recent revitalization success where historic preservation was a key part of the city’s economic development strategy.
Other highlights include the “Preservation Projects of Merit” and Preservation Iowa’s “Preservation at Its Best” awards ceremony, an exhibit hall and plenty of networking opportunities.
The keynote speaker, Bernice Radle, owns and operates Buffalove Development and Little Wheel Restoration Co., a full-service real estate company focused on reviving vacant and/or underutilized places and spaces. The goal is to smash together the basics of urban design, preservation, energy efficiency and affordability together to make neighborhoods better for the people who live, work and play there. Being a female owned and minority-focused company, Buffalove | Little Wheel aims to make strides in making space for females and minorities in the world of real estate and construction.
Radle's historic renovation work has been featured on HGTV and DIY network as part of American Rehab Buffalo and also in several publications including the New York Times, Huffington Post, Preservation Magazine, TedX and more. Bernice is currently working on several preservation projects including bringing the first brewery to Niagara Falls, N.Y., in 75 years.
During the Preserve Iowa Summit, visitors will get a chance to tour the grand old Hotel Maytag, which the city and developer Jack Hatch are returning to its former glory after decades of neglect. The project includes 45 apartments, plus a few small businesses, a movie theater and a restaurant.
The Summit is a coordinated effort of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, State Historic Preservation Office, City of Newton, the Newton Historic Preservation Commission and Preservation Iowa. It is funded in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior.
