Historical Recognition and Cost savings

Statement from Lorrie Muldowney, AICP, on Riverview High School designed by Paul Rudolph

The Riverview High School Complex, designed by Paul Rudolph in 1958, is one of the outstanding structures of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The architectural and historical significance of Riverview High School is recognized nationally and internationally. Riverview High School is potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and also in Sarasota County's Local Register of Historic Places. At present, the Complex is one of the 11 most endangered buildings in Florida according to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

Historic Registries would make the Complex eligible for a number of cost saving incentives :

CODES : Historic Designation would give relief from the substantial improvement limitation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations, and a more flexible interpretation of the Florida Building Code. Both of these would make substantial rehabilitation construction cost reductions.

GRANTS: Historic Designation would make Riverview High School eligible for SpecialCategory Grant funding from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. Special Category Grants are awarded annually and can be applied for over successive years. These grant dollars have been used locally to historically rehabilitate a number of Sarasota's significant buildings. The Ca' d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's mansion located on Sarasota Bay ($ 2,090,000); the Municipal Auditorium on North Tamiami Trail ($703,802) and the Sarasota County Court House ($600,000).

With Historic Designation, and the accompanying code abatement and grants the cost for rehabilitating the Riverview High School Complex should be substantially reduced. It is important to preserve the historically significant buildings in Sarasota so that future generations may have a sense of our community’s history.

[Lorrie Muldowney is a graduate from University of Florida - Masters Program in Historic Preservation. She is a practicing professional in the field of Historic Preservation. Lorrie is an Historic Preservation Specialist with the Sarasota County History Center.]