4 CHAPTER
USING HISTORIC PROPERTIES
United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle under full sail (photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)
Federal agencies were asked to share with the ACHP and Secretary of the Interior information on how they used their historic properties between 2014 and 2017. They were asked how this use contributed to local communities through economic development and heritage tourism, and if partnerships assisted; how they achieved resiliency goals; their success at leasing excess buildings and structures; and, the potential impacts of several recent federal laws aimed at further “reducing the footprint.” OVERVIEW: Federal agencies as a whole continue to make efforts to use their historic buildings for mission needs, and have a variety of mechanisms at their disposal with which to do this. Where feasible rehabilitation to meet “green” or LEED standards is now more common than it was in the last reporting period. Leasing and reuse are especially important as properties in use are better maintained and cared for, can be made energy efficient and green, and often were built to high construction standards (an underappreciated reason for their continued existence). Agencies like GSA and NASA (and now the VA) continue to find innovative ways to lease out unused or unneeded facilities or space. Cost Savings and “Reduce the Footprint” Goals. Per Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Management Procedures Memorandum 2015-01, Implementation of OMB Memorandum M-12-12 Section 3: Reduce the Footprint, dated March 25, 2015, all Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act executive branch departments and agencies are required to “aggressively to dispose of surplus properties held by the Federal Government, make more efficient use of the government’s real property assets, and reduce the
IN A SPIRIT OF STEWARDSHIP: A REPORT ON FEDERAL HISTORIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 2018 | 41
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