07 LC 96
2336
House
Resolution 239
By:
Representative Parsons of the
42nd
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
February 13, 2007, as "Historic Preservation Day"; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the year 2007 marks the 274th anniversary of Georgia's founding, when General
James Edward Oglethorpe landed in modern-day Savannah on February 12, 1733;
and
WHEREAS,
the preservation and rehabilitation of historic places have contributed to the
economic and social well-being of our state by revitalizing downtowns,
rehabilitating historic neighborhoods, attracting tourists, increasing tax
bases, and creating jobs and real estate investment opportunities in historic
districts throughout Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
the Main Street Program downtown revitalization program in 107 cities
administered through the Department of Community Affairs with design assistance
provided by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the University of
Georgia has assisted more than 3,500 businesses to rehabilitate their historic
buildings; and
WHEREAS,
about three-quarters of a billion private dollars have been invested in
completing certified historic rehabilitation projects in Georgia administered by
the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources;
and
WHEREAS,
historic sites are the number one destination chosen by visitors to Georgia, and
heritage tourism is a major feature of Georgia's $28 billion tourism economy
that employs 217,000 Georgians with a return of $1.3 billion in state and local
tax revenue; and
WHEREAS,
120 communities throughout Georgia have established historic preservation
commissions which recognize the important contributions historic places make to
the quality of life of Georgia cities and counties; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is among the nation's leaders in the number of Main Street communities,
certified historic tax rehabilitations, historic certified local governments,
and number of members of its state-wide historic preservation organization, the
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation; and
WHEREAS,
Rhodes Hall was a mansion built by Rhodes Furniture founder Amos Rhodes and in
1930 became the first State Archives of Georgia and is now headquarters for the
Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body
commends the Georgia historic preservation industry and recognizes, February 13,
2007, as"Historic Preservation Day."
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the
Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation,
the Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources, and
the University of Georgia.