Members of the community are invited to a meeting to learn about an upcoming project to document the history and architecture of Downtown Alpena.

What: Your Downtown, Your History! Community Meeting

When: Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Where: Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, 211 N. First Ave.            

               Judith Stillion Conference Room (Second Floor)

The City of Alpena, Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, and Thunder Bay Theatre are partnering with Firefly Preservation Consulting to document Downtown Alpena’s architectural heritage. The older and historic places within our downtown all play different roles in our everyday lives– whether you own one of these places, operate a business in one, or frequent a coffee shop, restaurant, shop, or church located within one. This survey will document the architecture of historic Downtown Alpena, as well as the stories of the people, places, and cultures that define the community.

This survey is made possible through a grant awarded from the State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service. Thunder Bay Theatre is the recipient of the grant that will be used to complete the survey and contribute to their renovation project at 400 N. Second Ave.

At this meeting, attendees will get a chance to:

• Meet Cheri LaFlamme Szcodronski, the owner and architectural historian of Firefly Preservation Consulting who will be conducting the research and completing the survey
• Hear about the process and timeline of the research and survey
• Learn about the National Register of Historic Places and its benefits for property owners
• Hear an update on the renovation of Thunder Bay Theatre
• Learn about the City’s Historic District Study Committee

The survey’s results will be used to nominate Downtown Alpena to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is an honorary recognition, but it also makes property owners eligible for historic rehabilitation tax credits and other grants in the future.

“The City of Alpena is thrilled to partner with the State Historic Preservation Office, Thunder Bay Theatre, Firefly Preservation, and our community as we work together toward listing properties within our downtown in the National Register of Historic Places,” said Montiel Birmingham, Planning, Development, and Zoning Director for the City of Alpena.

“This listing will give formal recognition to our downtown’s historical significance and will exemplify what makes our community unique and worthy of preservation.”    

Members of the public who have memories of Downtown Alpena, or have old photographs, maps, or other documents of historical interest related to a specific downtown business or building are encouraged to attend the meeting and learn how to contribute to the project.

For more information, please reach out to the DDA Office at 989-356-6422 or anneg@alpena.mi.us

Historic photos in this blog post are provided by the George R. and Edith Angell Cook Special Collections at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. For more info, visit here.