Zackery Cruze, Graduate Student, University of West Florida

Proposal Type: Point Counterpoint

Abstract: Humanity is especially adept at inventing creative solutions to meet their needs and further their ability to thrive in a given circumstance. These solutions and resourceful endeavors are often manifested in ways that may not at first illuminate themselves to the reasons behind their origins.

One such example of this hidden adaptation is the abundance of garage apartments in the East Hill community of Pensacola, Florida. As part of the University of West Florida’s graduate Public History class, a project was undertaken in connection with a local community’s neighborhood association to understand the nature and emergence of an unusually high number of unique garage apartment structures within a small segment of the city. It was discovered that a large number of these apartments were built following the Great Depression in an attempt to deal with a struggling economy and large population booms. This was a community on the edge in every aspect; in social status, population growth, and economic recovery, the East Hill Neighborhood was bordering on great success or crippling failure

Seeking: This presentation would be a form of debate or point/counterpoint on an issue which was brought up during the completion of the East Hill project. Many members of the neighborhood were advocating having the community placed upon the National Register of Historic Places however, due to the condition of some of the garage apartments and alterations which had been made to the original architecture, the neighborhood did not meet the criteria. It was proposed that the neighborhood could reapply for consideration under criterion A, associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history, instead of criterion D, embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction category. The discussion/debate segment would begin with an explanation of the history and development of the East Hill neighborhood followed by the discussion/debate focused upon if the neighborhood would meet the qualifications and as a public historian how one would balance their opinion on the matter, and the role of the neighborhood association as the historian’s client.

I am seeking advice on how best to present this topic and participants for the discussion/roundtable/debate.

Related Topics: Preservation, Civic Engagement, Place

If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Zackery Cruze, [email protected]

If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature at the end of the proposal submission page.

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