The Orion Township Board has agreed to contribute up to $11,650 to help the Orion Historical Society (OHS) to identify qualifying historic district properties in Lake Orion, and get them approved for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The properties the township board was asked to help with are located in the Village of Lake Orion, but are outside of the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) district.
OHS member Chuck Viers said since the properties in question are also taxed by the township, they were being asked to contribute.
‘Over the last eight years (OHS) has been working with the Lake Orion Village Council and the DDA to put together a proposal for a historic district within the limits of the village,? Viers said.
‘We’ve got to what they refer to as Phase I, or Phase A,? he said. ‘We’ve surveyed the properties within the DDA district.?
OHS contacted the state, who found the village itself did not contain enough historic properties to be considered for the register.
‘So we had to go outside the (DDA) district,? said Viers. ‘We surveyed 168 properties…and 82 are outside the DDA.?
Veers said by going outside the DDA, OHS felt that would provide enough properties to earn a spot on the register.
‘We’ve been able to fund Phase A,? he said. ‘That’s the initial set-up.?
According to Viers, the DDA provided $13,500 for its part of the survey, and OHS added $1,200.
‘We are asking, can the township contribute the $11,500 that’s left on the balance,? Vierd added. ‘We feel it’s a very good investment for the township.?
Vierr said the township would benefit from the taxes, while the residents would be able to apply for grants.
The township’s contribution will go towards completing Phase B of the project, which is actually putting together the gathered information and submitting it.
Trustee John Steimel wanted to know if the township could still publish the information that would be used, even if Orion was not approved for the register.
‘For our own purposes,? Steimel said. ‘We’ll have a recorded history…which is quite significant.?
Viers said it was his understanding that the township could do that.
‘Once this is done, it’s something that can be used not just for the Orion Historical Society, but for the township and village,? he added.
Janine Saputo, an Oakland Township resident and historical society member, said the nomination is actually a document of detailed history, which the state review board votes on first.
‘That information belongs to the submitter,? she added. ‘It many times ends up in a book, to present to the public.?
Trustee Michael Gingell asked if OHS had asked the village to contribute any funds.
‘I believe they have over the time, and with the DDA collection,? Viers said.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk believes OHS? focus is not just on the village.
‘They are looking out for the historic significance of the entire township,? he said.
The township’s contribution will be taken from the general fund, community services line, where money is already budgeted.