CANTON — The Canton Historical Society will host an evening presentation on Wednesday, April 11, featuring Christopher W. Closs, field service advisor for Maine Preservation, to be held at the newly-renovated Grange Hall, 25 Turner St.

The slide presentation is titled “Protecting Rural Community Character: Preservation at the Crossroads of Community Planning” and will entail discussion of the economic value and challenges associated with preserving the architectural and spatial character of rural communities; and how to organize, fund and staff a cultural resources survey that can be integrated in the Town Comprehensive Plan.

Focused on preserving the unique sense of place that every community possesses, Closs will also discuss how civic pride can be aroused with planning and financial incentives for the rehabilitation of income-producing buildings and the advantage of National Register of Historic Places designation for individual buildings and historic districts.

Information on the kinds of local ordinances and/or incentives that can be created at the local level to help protect historic architectural and landscape resources will be included, while stimulating both tax base growth and engendering community sustainability practices. Closs will close with commentary on new directions emerging in the relationship between historic preservation and contemporary social justice concerns.

The event is free and open to the public. Door will open at 6:15 p.m. with the presentation starting at 6:30.

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