Press release from Wyoming's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO):
"Living Upstairs in Wyoming," a workshop presented by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming Arts Council and Wyoming Main Street, will examine how the upper floors of commercial buildings can provide residences downtown.
The free workshop will be held in Sheridan May 11-12 and is open to anyone interested in getting upstairs residential space back in use. The evening of May 11th there will be an awards banquet at the Historic Sheridan Inn, a National Historic Landmark. The cost of the banquet is $30.
"There are many reasons to live downtown in upstairs spaces," commented Mary Hopkins, interim state historic preservation officer. "These include freedom from some of the cares of living in a home. Empty nesters and retirees enjoy being able to lock the door and leave on their travels. Young people looking for an apartment are used to a more pedestrian lifestyle on campus or in urban places and enjoy the proximity of places to spend their evenings."
The workshop will present an award-winning program developed by the Illinois Main Street program, "Upstairs Downtown." This program champions the reuse of existing infrastructures and buildings within established downtown neighborhoods as a sustainable alternative to sprawl, and as a way to bring vibrancy and growth to historic commercial districts. Communities encouraged to think "inside the box," grow up instead of out.
Individuals interested in the workshop and banquet should RSVP by May 4 to Ashley Rooney at the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office at 307.777.7566 or
aroone@state.wy.us.
A block of rooms has been reserved for the event at the Best Western Sheridan Center. Please make reservations as soon as possible as the block of rooms will be released on April 30th for other functions. To make sleeping room reservations at a special rate, please call the Best Western Sheridan Center, at 307.674.7421 and ask for the "Living Upstairs" room block.
For printable conference brochure, go to
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/Events/livingupstairsregistration.pdf
