Welcome

Welcome to the 2025 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference. This year's Opening Plenary Address will be presented by Erin Barnes, CEO of Main Street America.

Integrating Modern Mechanical Systems into Your Historic Building

Historic buildings often come complete with historic (a.k.a. antiquated) heating and cooling systems or no systems at all. This session will explore the different types of mechanical systems that are available today and tips and tricks for integrating them sensitively into your historic building.

Young Preservation Professionals Panel

Our panel of young preservationists will discuss getting into historic preservation, their professional challenges and successes, how they developeed career goals in the field.

Tour: First Ladies National Historic Site

Registration opening soon. Take a guided tour of the First Ladies National Historic Site in downtown Canton. The First Ladies National Historic Site (NHS) in Canton was established as a National Park Site in 2000 and is comprised of two buildings: The Saxton House and the Visitor Center, both conveniently located directly across the street from the conference hotel.

Cornerstone Redefined: How Community-Focused Rehabilitation Anchors Neighborhoods

This session will illustrate how community-driven programs can be good candidates for rehabilitation projects while providing a positive impact on a neighborhood level. Through a series of case studies, participants will learn how to analyze an existing building to recognize potential uses, with a focus on the flexibility of arts, culture, and community spaces. Attendees will develop an understanding of how such projects create a positive impact both on the immediate building as well as the neighborhood through sensitive rehabilitation and spurring surrounding development.

The Revitalization of Downtown Canton

Two-Part Session: In 2016 the City of Canton adopted a Comprehensive Plan. This plan prioritized Downtown Canton as a location for revitalization; as well as a formula to raise public funds which in turn were utilized toward a catalytic redevelopment project; Centennial Plaza. This project would turn an underutilized block of Downtown Canton into a lively civic space. As a result of the success of Centennial Plaza, the City of Canton has worked with partners to establish the Downtown Canton Partnership that supports downtown revitalization efforts, programming of events, and oversight of the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District and Downtown Canton Landbank. Additionally, support has been provided to anchor institutions including the Historic Canton Palace Theatre, the First Ladies National Historic Site, and a number of private establishments through grant programs, infrastructure development, and collaboration. Lastly, the city has been working to reimagine the public realm in Downtown Canton through a number of initiatives including a branding and wayfinding program, the implementation of projects such as the construction of a public restroom facility, and the programming of events such as First Fridays, the Canton Farmers Market, and Downtown Canton Mural Fest. During this presentation Donn Angus, the Director of Planning, along with Cassie Pearson, will discuss the social and economic factors that impacted Downtown Canton prior to the revitalization efforts, what public and private revitalization efforts have occurred in Downtown Canton since and the use and success of the revitalization programs offered by the City of Canton.

Design Charrette: Reimagining Court Street

Two-Part Session: After hearing about the plans for the continued revitalization of downtown Canton, experience first hand the process of undertaking a design charrette to reactivate the historic Court Street corridor.

Revolutionizing Business Development with 3D Spatial Scanning: Tools for Recruiting and Retaining Businesses and Developers and Inspiring Investment

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, leveraging cutting-edge technology is key to revitalizing Main Street communities. This session will explore how 3D spatial scanning software is transforming the way Ohio's small towns and downtown districts approach business recruitment, retention, and development. Join us as we demonstrate how 3D virtual tours and geospatial data capture allow for immersive, data-driven storytelling that showcases your district’s properties to prospective businesses in an innovative way. Learn how to use these tools to not only attract potential tenants but also retain existing ones by providing them with valuable, real-time insights into the community's potential for growth and vibrancy. We'll also dive into how geospatial scanning can be instrumental in securing grant funding. Learn how accurate, detailed virtual models and location-specific data can strengthen your grant proposals, inspire philanthropists, and enhance your district’s competitiveness in securing state, federal, and private sector support.

Vendor Reception

Grab a drink and a bite to eat at our evening Vendor Reception. Visit with our vendors and network with fellow professionals from around the state.

Main Street Networking

Bite-Sized Preservation

This session will explore strategies for effectively planning meaningful preservation projects with constrained resources. Many organizations often face tight budgets, but with strategic planning, preservation goals can still be realized successfully. Learn about the importance of early planning studies and assessments, which help prioritize and phase projects for gradual implementation that align with available funding. Attendees will also discover how key deliverables can be instrumental in attracting additional funding and engaging stakeholders.

Collaborative Spaces: How Shared Business Models Can Lower Overhead and Expand Reach

In this interactive session, we will explore how businesses can collaborate to share spaces, reduce overhead, and grow their customer bases. Through the example of the 4th Street Collective—a partnership between a deli, a pizza shop, and a brewery—participants will learn how creative collaboration in shared spaces can help businesses thrive in downtown areas. The session will feature a live Q&A with the business owners behind this unique partnership, providing attendees with firsthand insights into the challenges, successes, and lessons learned. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the business owners and ask questions about how they structured the collaboration, managed logistics, and navigated any obstacles.

Real Estate: The Black Sheep of Downtowns—Turning a Necessary Evil into an Economic Asset

Real estate development is often a contentious topic in Main Street circles—seen as both a necessary asset and a challenge to manage. However, when leveraged strategically, real estate can be the key to revitalization, economic growth, and long-term sustainability for downtowns. This session will explore how Main Street programs can actively participate in and lead real estate development efforts, positioning themselves as place-based economic development hubs. Participants will learn how to utilize transformation strategies, economic leakage studies, and property activation methods to program their downtowns effectively. The session will also outline practical steps for working with private developers, activating underutilized properties, and using real estate as a catalyst for downtown improvements. Attendees will gain insights from case studies across communities of all sizes, learning best practices and proven techniques that align real estate development with Main Street revitalization goals.

So You Want to Host a House Tour: Running a Successful Program

After 64 years of our annual Haus und Garten Tour, the German Village Society is excited to have an opportunity to share some of our insights on how to plan and implement a successful tour of homes. This session will look at the logistics of planning a tour, getting community involvement, and the day-of operations that make it all come together. Come learn from our experiences as we have led one of Columbus’s most attended house and garden tours for over six decades!

Tour: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Ticket Required.

Tour: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Take this behind-the-scenes tour of the Manor House to learn more about the Seiberling family and domestic staff who worked and lived at the estate. Tour highlights include entertainment spaces such as the Music Room and Great Hall, and family recreation areas including the Plunge (indoor swimming pool), as well as the gardens, Gate Lodge and Corbin Conservatory. Ticket Required. Self-transport to site.