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73 <br /> What are the concerns or emerging issues your board has identified for the upcoming <br /> year that it plans to address, or wishes to bring to the Commissioners' attention? <br /> • The HPC strongly supports a proposed project to develop a long-range historic <br /> preservation plan to guide all future work on the Historic Old Orange County Courthouse <br /> including its grounds/landscaping. The HPC will seek BOCC approval to initiate this effort <br /> to protect one of the county's most significant historic structures, which is also one of the <br /> finest Greek Revival style courthouses in the state. This project will be carried out in <br /> partnership with AMS, to develop a planning document for review and input from the <br /> BOCC and the eventual adoption of an approved master plan for the Courthouse and <br /> grounds. (Note: the last major work was done in 1985, when the courthouse was <br /> renovated to improve fire safety and ADA accessibility, and the restoration of the tower <br /> and clock, completed in 2004). <br /> • The HPC wishes to explore the possibility of a program to offer financial incentives (small <br /> grants and/or special tax treatment)to owners of the endangered types of historic <br /> resources that help give Orange County its special historic character. Many of these <br /> buildings represent our agricultural heritage, such as diary barns, tobacco barns, silos, <br /> corn cribs, and livestock barns. Other endangered resources include log houses and <br /> slave cemeteries. This has been done successfully in other places. It helps owners afford <br /> modest repairs that could greatly extend the life of these resources, like new barn tin <br /> roofing or simple structural repairs. The protection and preservation of these historic <br /> resources will enhance the county's efforts to preserve its rural character and will help <br /> efforts to promote agri-tourism and heritage tourism. Any such incentives would require <br /> agreements with the property owner stipulating ongoing protection of that resource, <br /> similar to the agreements used for the VAD program. <br /> • The HPC seeks to broaden the diversity of the Local Historic Landmark program, to <br /> encourage landmark designation for sites of significance to the County's African <br /> American heritage, as well as archaeological sites representing the importance of the <br /> Indian culture of the area. <br /> -5- <br />