The ABCs of Historic Designation

As the Architectural Historian for the State of Washington for almost 20 years, Michael has a long record of helping owners understand the architecture and history of their buildings. Houser has a common sense, down-to-earth approach about historic preservation issues and prides himself on simplifying the often complex issues of preserving historic resources. Currently he manages the State and National Register programs for Washington State; as well as Washington’s unique Heritage Barn Program. Houser helped bring post WWII resources into the states focus by establishing the “Nifty-from-the-Last 50 Initiative” in 2003 which initially documented over 300 mid-century modern buildings across the state. As the state’s go-to expert, he has reviewed numerous post WWII resources as part of the Section 106 process, from small ranch houses to cold war military facilities. His current pet project includes creating biographies of architects and designers who practiced Washington state, and he has recently developed a study of Seattle area Parade of Homes. Houser holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and a Master of Science Degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University. A native of Vancouver, Washington, Michael returned to the Washington state via Bend, OR where he served as the Historic Preservation Planner for six years managing the CLG programs for the County and three incorporated cities. His previous work experience includes time at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI; survey work for the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; and historic home inspections and architectural work for Thomas Hickey Architects in Chicago.

Kate Singleton is the Chief Preservation Planner for the City of Dallas. She has over 40 years’ experience in historic preservation, downtown revitalization and economic and community development. Kate is the former Executive Director for Preservation Austin. She has served as Executive Director of the West Fort Bend Management District, Planning Manager for Downtown Dallas, Inc. and State Coordinator of the Arizona Main Street program as well as Main Street Manager in Waxahachie and Grapevine. She has extensive experience in cultural resources management. Kate has offered professional consulting services in the areas of historic preservation, downtown revitalization, economic development, financial incentives, strategic planning, community development, municipal planning, zoning, urban design, and project implementation. She has written preservation plans, design standards for commercial and residential historic districts, downtown redevelopment plans and preservation ordinances. Kate has also developed financial incentives for cities including the highly successful City of Dallas Historic Tax Incentive Program. She also wrote amendments to the Dallas building code some of which were codified into the International Existing Building Code. Kate has also completed over $150 million in Federal Historic Tax Credit projects. Kate has conducted training for numerous historic preservation commissions and downtown associations around the state of Texas and has presented at several state preservation and downtown conferences in Texas, Arizona and Arkansas as well as the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference and National Main Street Conference on subjects including advocacy, financial incentives, preservation design standards, downtown authenticity. Kate has her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Texas. She has served on the Dallas Landmark Commission, on the Tourism Commission for the City of Austin, Austin Creative Alliance Board, the boards of Texas Downtown Association, Preservation Texas and Preservation Action.
Email: kateasingleton@hotmail.com

Barbara A.M.Howard
is the Managing Partner and Director of Heritage Preservation for Stonebridge Learning, a continuing education resource for the heritage industry. She develops mobile applications, digital publications, and online courses, empowering people to recognize the significance of historic resources, to preserve them for future generations, and to integrate them into everyday life through redevelopment, lifelong learning, and community conversations. Prior to starting Stonebridge Learning in 2016, Barbara worked for over twenty years in the heritage industry’s for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental sectors, including leading the State Historic Preservation Offices in Iowa and Minnesota and serving as a principal investigator for architectural history surveys. She also works as a historian for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, serves on the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, is an Associate member of the American Institute of Architects, and meets the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualification standards for architectural history, historic architecture, and history.