Page 67 - Reflect DSM (City of Des Moines, IA)

its operation, the program provided an
opportunity for City Council and community
members to see the positive impact of
preservation.

Rehabbers Club

The Rehabbers Club, a group focused
on the technical, hands-on aspects of
historic preservation, has also operated
on an intermittent basis but provides
opportunities for community members to
learn preservation skills they can apply to
their own projects.

Informal Outreach Figure 26. A photo from the Rehabbers Club Facebook page,
showing a previous hands-on window restoration demonstration.
(Source: Rehabbers Club Facebook page)
Beyond the partner-led education and
outreach efforts described above, city staff
also make themselves available to answer
applicant questions, attend events and
provide training and information when
requested. These efforts tend to be the
most labor intensive but the most effective
because staff can address the particular
needs of residents no matter where they
intersect with the preservation program.
Informal outreach also comes through Figure 27. The header image for the “Lost Des Moines” Facebook
page. (Source: Lost Des Moines Facebook page)
social media including the Lost Des Moines
Facebook group, which shares photos,
stories, and videos of Des Moines’ history.

Education and Awareness: Potential Planning Approaches

– Educate residents about the term “historic preservation” and, more specifically, about the
City’s historic preservation program.
– Determine the City’s role in outreach and engagement within the historic preservation
program, including staff time and responsibilities as well as those of the Historic Preservation
Commission.
– Provide sources for hands-on preservation training by working with groups such as the
Rehabbers Club to resume workshops, partner with local schools, or direct applicants to
informative seminars or videos.
– Design educational opportunities to be accessible and available to people of all ages and
backgrounds by providing translated resources and incorporating a variety of outreach
methods that will be of interest to many people.

Adopted Plan (September 2023) 61