[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6208362,"mediaKeyId","3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af","parentId",3748285,"title","Decatur officials warn state preservation funding frozen; commission drafts letter to senators","audioSeconds",219,"startMs",2946000,"endMs",3165000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af&start=2946&end=3165","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af/thumbnail_2946000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6208362/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Decatur-officials-warn-state-preservation-funding-frozen-commission-drafts-letter-to-senators","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208362-7b65fc8b19d39495b1c4bd84b0928fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770528146&Signature=K-ySsImdt1nwVpTH4YrIk0BJd4PZoE8w2sjhgYxI0KSF1~nsCswkO-LLh8jc2iosR~ctv36m9duwAQHoq3B161uZe9kFMXHjwQZEh9diN8qtwPXmaPA0luO0wlRMSgMEx4QRslp1lH1AscFZkOJTSj7SCtDkRRQlEDaBoi53sFY4SiHPEYtb1OdsEQN1OMyNcvplOX3So0XEJPSZ5wI~YlSGx~cNSyBUfynlADfq-c~CwPRpFwOt9zz8LJFH8sBxovBWzu-Z-WHpwVXXv6PzG3OmVB714XeTx6K6KUn80de-OObFSV9ej2E90WGO7ERwbFOToNVfJuLwJkgxYbAnCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur City, AL","date","2025-06-10T20:55:26Z","article","Historic preservation staff briefed the commission on two funding problems affecting state and local preservation programs: (1) congressional appropriations that were passed for fiscal year 2025 have not been released by the federal government, leaving state preservation offices unable to access funds, and (2) the House reconciliation budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 would effectively zero out the Historic Preservation Fund except for limited allocations to certain recipients.

Staff said the fund — financed by offshore oil and gas lease revenues and administered through the National Park Service to state historic preservation offices — supports many functions including grant programs, Certified Local Government (CLG) staffing, historic tax‑credit review, Section 106 reviews, and competitive grants such as HERS and underrepresented community grants. Caroline told commissioners some states are already laying off preservation staff because salary lines are funded from the withheld appropriations.

Why it matters: staff said the freeze and proposed elimination threaten grants that Decatur and other communities rely on for rehabilitation projects, interpretive programs, and consultant support. Staff listed projects in Decatur that have relied on or sought funding from those programs, including Old State Bank rehabilitation work and recent grant applications on behalf of historic churches and community surveys.

Key points:

- Withheld FY2025 funds: Congress appropriated funds in March, but staff said the money has not been released to states; that delay has left state historic preservation offices unable to distribute grants or pay partially funded staff.

- FY2026 risk: staff said the House reconciliation bill would largely eliminate the Historic Preservation Fund for 2026, except for a narrow set of recipients; staff warned this would decimate grant programs and undermine the CLG partnership.

- Local impact examples: Caroline said Decatur had applied for HERS funds and other grants (Old State Bank HERS application was not funded); staff also assisted a congregation with a civil rights grant application that was not funded this cycle and plans to resubmit next year.

- Requested action: staff proposed a draft letter from the commission to U.S. senators explaining the local impact and asking for support to release FY2025 funds and to preserve FY2026 appropriations. Staff asked commissioners to review and sign the letter and encouraged commissioners to seek endorsements from local historical and genealogical societies.

Next steps: staff will circulate the draft letter, collect signatures from the commission, and send it to senators. Staff indicated they would attach a list of local projects and grants that depend on the funding.

Ending: Commissioners supported outreach; staff said they would add names and send copies to congressional offices if the budget returns to the House for further action.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Historic Preservation Commission Meeting 06:10:25","oneSentenceSummary","Staff told the commission that congressional appropriations for the Historic Preservation Fund have been frozen and the FY2026 reconciliation proposal would eliminate much of the fund; staff asked the commission to sign a letter to federal senators and encouraged local groups to add their support.","taxTitle","Decatur City, Morgan County, Alabama","taxId",5148,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208367,"Decatur commission reviews Civil War marker text, postpones final wording until state review",334,2226000,2560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af&start=2226&end=2560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af/thumbnail_2226000.jpg","/articles/6208367/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Decatur-commission-reviews-Civil-War-marker-text-postpones-final-wording-until-state-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208367-d785e3df1d48c64478880eea602a21f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770528146&Signature=XGcTPC2mQKULta2ihssx-esSA42vx6C0S8p3c-eQ-H7l5zYFJcRXf1DGRFjSigvBYt1hTgaJeIzxGJIB7ULq4CWqOERjGmSTa882rqdmAY-eZznEn8~GLYsvOrzfTrdgUEYbnoy-~BgYiIjVquu~UlZ6Ftt-3qrigKeDES7Y-iO8XudI07yINlwMR8PuLdSMNLbJAREBnNX-PehphA62EC7pdxzxsbiK43jKWuVEVI96rXZT6GKCLin8ECGTUxKuVacsV~CiPgv6eQzHrHaQF0otwc~~cUfbGUkN6uFtvqDTgTPIzyI20kB9JGQBG-sUADilZqibYpMmAZ9OFOtr1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Historic preservation staff told the commission they received draft graphics and wording for a planned Civil War‑era marker and found factual discrepancies in the vendor’s original text.

Staff said the vendor’s template showed background imagery and compressed wording, and that one draft inaccurately suggested continuous U.S. military occupation of Decatur from 1862 to 1865. Staff proposed corrected wording and said the vendor would return in September with updated text and final designs. Commissioners did not record a formal vote at the meeting.

Why it matters: the marker is part of the city’s program to place interpretive signs on public property; because marker text will be visible to the public and influence local interpretation of the past, staff said the Historic Preservation Commission must approve wording placed on city right‑of‑way or property.

Key points:

- Template and imagery: staff showed a vendor template that pairs a large background image with explanatory text at right; staff noted the vendor has since revised imagery and that final imagery and descriptive copy remained outstanding.

- Factual corrections: staff and a local contributor (John) reviewed the draft and proposed edits to avoid overstating occupation dates and to correct the opera house/company names in other nomination materials; staff insisted the commission must approve the final wording.

- Timeline and placement: staff expects the vendor back in September with updated text; markers are planned for installation in 2026.

Next steps: staff will follow up with the vendor to obtain corrected text and an updated background image; the commission will vote on the final wording when the vendor returns with an updated proposal.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to circulate the proposed language and to confirm placement sites; staff said they will follow up and bring the item back for a formal vote when the vendor provides revised materials.

","Commission members reviewed proposed text and images for a city historic marker about Civil War era events; staff identified factual errors in the vendor’s draft and asked the vendor to revise text before a formal vote. Placement and installation are planned for 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6208369,"Decatur staff seek National Register boundary changes, extend period of significance to 1979",1329,617000,1946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af&start=617&end=1946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3748285-c5903343cd17f2aff8044a09dbe095af/thumbnail_617000.jpg","/articles/6208369/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Decatur-staff-seek-National-Register-boundary-changes-extend-period-of-significance-to-1979","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208369-700cc4b0baf5fdbd021742591983d685/orig.mp4?Expires=1770528146&Signature=eUOR2tCD2SN6KLUoeuIHtodNxerACdF0jTsHqjp5wQZejFKsyzH4lu21y07BrqhQGL0yyEqG-L--Fr14zIkIuKQtXkrmLKQ63dXDJj~4UJE1Oc3EIZRSz2GY1JFynjF03V~KzN9DfNHP4o3tLne84aGNLsF0AGx2STuWFkFHBXcBZtIeCSPoRcewC6lMHxGVxiRgZDvtzeKpl5wQg0EPFQE~jKKwPDmrDQQWoURkKZe6ISRel0rpCzLDecZu52E9fUenPosSQJLPg7qFdpLUAGQvtKkzlJuDiZ7VXe8QTkeS1J9Sl4Bt752VrmbEOzUrZdIkOzZUTmxk-wNHFE4mbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jamie, a consultant with EFC, presented a draft amendment to the National Register nomination for the commercial district historically known as New Decatur (later Albany), saying the nomination includes a boundary decrease of “approximately 3.3 acres” and an increase of about 30 acres to encompass post–World War II development.

The amendment would extend the district’s period of significance to 1941–1979, update the resource inventory and adjust contributing status to reflect demolitions and later construction. As amended, Jamie said, the nomination lists 85 resources, 64 of which are contributing and 21 noncontributing; nine resources from the original nomination were removed because they were demolished.

Why it matters: the amendment would formally recognize mid-20th-century commercial growth that occurred east and south of Second Avenue and document surviving buildings from the 1880s through the 1970s. Jamie told the commission the draft is currently “with the State Historic Preservation Office, undergoing review,” and staff expect the item to appear on the state board docket in September.

Key details from the presentation:

- Boundary changes: a roughly 3.3-acre boundary decrease was proposed where large-scale infill and demolition removed historic fabric; a roughly 30-acre increase would add blocks on First and Fourth avenues and cross streets including Grant, Johnston and Moulton between Second and Fourth avenues.

- Period of significance and resources: the period would extend to 1979 to capture post–World War II development; the nomination inventory would total 85 resources (64 contributing, 21 noncontributing) after removing nine demolished buildings and adding about 40 resources in the increase area.

- Architectural character: presenter materials highlighted 19th- and early-20th-century commercial blocks along Second Avenue and a wave of mid‑century modern and international‑style commercial and bank buildings in the boundary increase area; examples discussed include former auto and retail buildings, mid‑century banks and three historic churches.

- The Princess Theater: the draft proposes removing the Princess Theater from the district’s boundary decrease area so it can be individually listed on the National Register rather than remain as an isolated contributing resource within a noncontributing context.

Caroline (historic preservation staff) and Jamie discussed the effect of later construction on district design and why newer buildings typically are treated as noncontributing when they are under 50 years old. Jamie said the nomination updates several earlier errors, including revised construction dates and corporate names for the opera house/theater building in the nomination record.

Next steps: staff said the nomination will remain under state review and return to the commission for further comment before it goes to the full state board. Jamie and staff asked commissioners to review the draft and noted the state review schedule would determine final local timelines.

Ending: Commission members asked a few clarifying questions about specific parcels and whether recently built hotels and parking garages fall inside the proposed boundary; staff said those modern structures are mostly in the decrease area and that the nomination is intended to draw the boundary around surviving historic resources.

","A consultant presented a draft amendment to the National Register nomination for New Decatur/Albany that would reduce the district by about 3.3 acres, add roughly 30 acres, extend the period of significance to 1979 and update contributing status for 85 resources; the draft is now with the State Historic Preservation Office for review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Decatur officials warn state preservation funding frozen; commission drafts letter to senators

Decatur commission reviews Civil War marker text, postpones final wording until state review

Decatur staff seek National Register boundary changes, extend period of significance to 1979