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RENOVATIONS TO HISTORICAL BUILDINGS
Spencer Engineers,
Inc. (SEI)
is the AE of
record for the renovation of many buildings at fort Sam Houston that are
registered with the National Register of Historical Buildings. These
buildings require special attention to preserve the original design and
appearance. Special planning is required to hide HVAC and other
modernization requirements. We work with local Historical Society
committees to get informal design approval prior to formal submittal. These
projects include 15 Historical Buildings at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. SEI
has completed the steps are listed in Figure 1 of section 106 for the
procedure for designating historic properties and for modifying designated
historic properties for many historic preservation projects. SEI has
submitted and received permission to proceed with construction of
modifications to historic buildings at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Bliss. We
have found that informal consultation between the Historical Authority and
the Architect will expedite design approval, and prevent personal conflicts
due to varying professional opinions, goals, and agenda. Adding new central
HVAC, lighting, power, and plumbing to Historical Buildings requires very
creative engineers to create systems that will be acceptable to the various
Historical Commission requirements as determined and interpreted by various
State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO's). We believe that we will need
to employ local architects with ties to those agencies with historic
preservation control for projects located in foreign countries (and for
stateside projects where he need additional trust & influence).
1.
STEPS FOR SECTION 106
HISTORICAL REVIEW: The following
steps are listed in Figure 1 of section 106 as the procedure for designating
historic properties and for modifying designated historic properties:
1.1.
Step 1
IDENTIFY/EVALUATE HISTORIC PROPERTIES: The
Federal agency responsible for an undertaking begins by identifying the
historic properties the undertaking may affect. To do this, the agency
first reviews background information and consults with the State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) and others who may know about historic
properties in the area. Based on this review the agency determines what
additional surveys or other field studies may be needed, and conducts such
studies. If properties, that is , districts, sites, buildings, structures,
or objects, are found that may be eligible for inclusion in the National
Register of Historic Places, but have not yet been included in the Register,
the agency evaluates them against criteria published by the National Park
Service, which maintains the Register. This evaluation is carried out in
consultation with the SHPO, and if questions arise about the eligibility of
a given property, the agency may seek a formal determination of eligibility
from the Secretary of the Interior. If a property has already been included
in the National Register, of course, further evaluation is not ordinarily
necessary. Section 106 review gives equal treatment to properties that have
already been included in the Register and those that are eligible for
inclusion.
1.2.
Step 2
ACCESS EFFECTS: If historic properties, that
is, properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register, are found, the agency then assesses what effect its undertaking
will have on them. Again the agency works with the SHPO, and considers the
views of others. The agency makes its assessment based on criteria found in
the Council’s regulations, and can make one of three determinations:
1.2.1.
No effect: the undertaking will not affect historic properties.
1.2.2.
No adverse effect: the undertaking will affect one or more historic
properties, but the effect will not be harmful.
1.3. Step 3
CONSULTATION: If an adverse effect will
occur, the agency consults with the SHPO and others in an effort to find
ways to make the undertaking less harmful. Others who are consulted, under
various circumstances may include local governments, Indian tribes, property
owners, other members of the public, and the Council. Consultation is
designed to result in an Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which outlines
measures agreed upon that the agency will take to reduce, avoid, or mitigate
the adverse effect. In some cases, the consulting parties may agree that no
such measures are available, but that the adverse effects must be accepted
in the public interest.
1.3.1.
If consultation proves unproductive, the agency or the SHPO, or the
Council itself, may terminate consultation. The agency must submit
appropriate documentation to the Council and request the Council’s written
comments.
1.4.
Step 4
COUNCIL COMMENT: The Council may comment
during Step 3 of the process, by participating in consultation and signing
the resulting MOA. Otherwise, the agency obtains Council comment by
submitting the MOA to the Council for review and acceptance. The Council
can accept the MOA, request changes or opt to issue written comments. If
consultation was terminated, the Council issues its written comments
directly to the agency head, as the agency had requested.
1.5.
Step 5
PROCEED: If an MOA is executed, the agency
proceeds with its undertaking under the terms of the MOA. In the absence of
an MOA, the agency head must take into account the Council’s written
comments in deciding whether and how to proceed.
2.
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES:
The Section 106 regulations also spell out three alternative means of
complying with Section 106. These alternative approaches are:
2.1.
Programmatic Agreements among an agency, the Council, one or more
SHPOs, and/or others.
2.2.
Counterpart regulations developed by an agency and approved by the
Council.
2.3. An agreement between the Council and a State, which substitutes a
State review system for the standard Section 106 review process.
3.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
EXPERIENCE: SEI has submitted and
received permission to proceed with construction of modifications to
historic buildings at Fort Sam Houston and Fort Bliss. We have found that
informal consultation between the Historical Authority and the Architect
will expedite design approval, and prevent personal conflicts due to varying
professional opinions, goals, and agenda.
3.1.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas - FSH-005738 - 55 Family Housing Units -
Infantry Post - We performed site investigation of existing facilities.
Upgrade and renovation of kitchens, exterior electrical service entrance,
vanity in bathrooms, and exterior storage rooms. Added Central HVAC.
Regrade site for improved drainage. Remove asbestos insulation on piping
exposed in basement. 1993 - $2,039,000 - U. S. Army Corps of Engineers -
Jerry Buchert, PE (817) 334-2280
3.2.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas - FSH-012337 - 43 Family Housing Units - We
performed site investigation of existing facilities. We designed new
air-conditioning, new kitchens, new insulation, new doors, and new primary
electrical distribution systems. - 1993 - $1,581,000 - U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers - Jerry Buchert, PE (817) 334-2280
3.3.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas - Area 1&4 - 19 Family Housing Units - We
performed site investigation of existing facilities. Removed asbestos
insulation on existing hot water heating piping. Replaced existing hot
water heating system and window air conditioning units with new HVAC units
in the crawl space for first floor and attic for second floor. Site
investigation and as-built drawings. Added attic stairs and flooring.
remodeled baths, added new baths in some buildings. provided new electric
service entries and new wall switches. upgraded electrical distribution
system, service entry and main panel. Designed to comply with current
criteria and Texas Historical commission requirements. MILITARY FAMILY
HOUSING REMODELING. - 1992 - $1,992,000 - U. S. Army Corps of Engineers -
Jerry Buchert, PE (817) 334-2280
3.4.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas - Conversion of a Historical Residential
Building (626) into a Hotel - Renovation & upgrade of 100+ year old building
(Stilwell House) in accordance with current criteria and Texas historical
Commission requirements. Site Investigation and documentation of existing
building. Extensive documentation of multiple types of interior trim, wood
and plaster application. Removed asbestos insulation on existing hot water
heating piping. Upgrade & renovation for conversion to hotel for transient
patients in medical facilities. -1989 - $620,000 - U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers - Jerry Buchert, PE (817) 334-2280
3.5.
Fort Sam Houston, Texas -BUILDING NO. 416 - Remodeled historical
landmark building. Added Central HVAC. -1988 - $620,000 - U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers - Jerry Buchert, PE (817) 334-2280
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