The downtown district of Alpena will soon be named a historic district through the National Register of Historic Places. The honorary title will allow city officials to better preserve the city's history.
Anne Gentry, the director of Alpena’s downtown development authority, said the new change won’t limit what property owners can do with their building and will open up funding opportunities for future improvements
“It does open funding opportunities for historic buildings that are in the district, federal tax credits or periodically there are grants available through SHPO that stipulate you have to be on the register to apply,” she said. “It's exciting since the whole district is on it.”
Gentry said this has been a goal for the DDA for over 20 years. The city got its opportunity after receiving a grant for the Thunder Bay Theater
"They received a grant through the state historic preservation office, and as part of that grant, they had to either list the building or list the district,” Gentry said.
Alpena was established in 1871 and is rooted in Michigan’s historic logging industry. Gentry said there are hundreds of historic buildings throughout the district.
Some of the buildings over 100 years old include:
- The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Centennial Building (1876)
- The Center Building (1903)
- The State Theater (Rebuilt in 1925 after a fire)
Gentry said that it's exciting for her city to be recognized for its history.
“There are buildings across the country that are on the national register, and there are districts across the country,” she said. “So for us to achieve this, puts us right up there with other locations all across the U.S. that can share that they're nationally significant.”
