Donovan Rypkema, Noted Historic Preservation Economist, to Be Keynote Speaker at California Preservation Foundation’s 34th Annual Conference April 16-19, 2009 ‘The Culture of Leisure: Rethinking the California Dream’

Conference Features Sustainability as a Focus

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9 /PRNewswire/ — The California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is pleased to announce Donovan Rypkema, renowned historic preservation economist, will be the keynote speaker of its upcoming 34th Annual Conference in Palm Springs, CA April 16-19, 2009.

Rypkema is recognized as an industry leader in the economics of preserving historic structures. Since 1983 he has provided ongoing consulting services to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and its National Main Street Center. He has undertaken assignments in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Donovan Rypkema is principal of PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development-consulting firm specializing in downtown and neighborhood commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic structures. In 2004 Rypkema established Heritage Strategies International, a new firm created to provide similar services to world-wide clients. He also teaches a graduate course in preservation economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is the author of The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide, which was published by the National Trust for Historic preservation in 2005 and is widely used by preservationists nationwide. In 2006 the Russian Center for Heritage Trusteeship translated and published a Russian edition of the book.

Also added to the roster of the conference is a special session led by Dr. Raymond Neutra, son of the esteemed architect Richard Neutra. Dr. Neutra will participate in a session titled Restoration and Programmatic Potentials of the Richard and Dion Neutra “VDL Studio/Residences” 1932, 1940, 1966.

The session will be moderated by Kelly Lynch, actress and Neutra home owner. Dr. Neutra will be joined on the panel by Professor Sarah Lorenzen, the resident director of the Richard and Dion Neutra Studio/Residences which was bequeathed to the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design. Dr. Raymond Richard Neutra, an epidemiologist is the senior Neutra’s youngest son, will talk about the significance and survival of the site while Professor Lorenzen, will describe restoration plans and academic and community uses of the site.

The 2009 CPF Annual Conference will also feature exclusive tours which will highlight Palm Springs’ mid century modern architecture and its many popular sights. In addition, several special events will be held in the city’s most historic and architecturally significant venues.

CPF’s 34th Annual Conference in Palm Springs is expected to draw an enthusiastic gathering of like-minded preservationists who will ponder and explore the provocative conference topic – The Culture of Leisure: Rethinking the California Dream.

“We think the focus of our 2009 conference will capture the imaginations of our attendees and will be an exciting and stimulating event,” said Cindy Heitzman, CPF executive director. “Palm Springs, the location of the conference, is the ideal place to explore the ‘culture of leisure’ as it’s world-renowned for being an oasis of leisure.”

The three-day conference features more than 30 stimulating sessions and outstanding workshops as well as special events and tours that will give conference attendees an opportunity to visit celebrated iconic homes and intriguing historic sites.

Among the conference topics are modernism, politics of preservation, community identity and a variety of issues pertaining to California’s historic, cultural and natural resources with an emphasis on sustainability. The sessions will feature over 100 speakers who are experts in their fields. The sessions represent important cultural, environmental and preservation topics:

• Greening the Culture of Leisure: Teeing up for Sustainability & Preservation
• Local Character: It’s More Than A Feeling
• Avoiding the Sand Traps: Office of Historic Preservation Best Practices
• The Politics of Preservation
• Beyond Martini Modern: A Sober Look at the Recent Past
• Rehabilitating the California Dream: A Preservation Practice Toolkit

Among the hundreds of participants expected to attend are city and county planners, architects, landscape architects, community leaders, landmark and historic resource commissioners, historians, archeologists, educators, attorneys, realtors, students, historic property owners, Main Street coordinators, members of Certified Local Governments, developers, contractors, craftsmen, advocates of historic preservation, heritage travelers, and involved citizens from around California and beyond.

To register for the 2009 conference and for more information, visit the CPF website: californiapreservation.org or call CPF headquarters (415) 495-0349.

Founded in 1977, the California Preservation Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of California‘s cultural and architectural heritage. The California Preservation Foundation provides statewide leadership, advocacy and education to ensure the protection of California‘s diverse cultural heritage and historic places. For more information on CPF, visit: californiapreservation.org

SOURCE California Preservation Foundation