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Shaker Heights Landmark Commission Chair Brian Gleisser presented the 2009 Preservation Awards to four outstanding renovation and improvement projects on September 13 in a ceremony held at the Shaker Historical Society.

The Shaker Heights Landmark Commission established its Preservation Awards program in 1998 to recognize and highlight efforts by property owners who have preserved and improved their properties.  The awards program is mirrored after the program established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In reviewing the 2009 nominations, the Landmark Commission chose to recognize projects meeting the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.  The Standards for Rehabilitation are basic principles created to help preserve the distinctive character of a historic building and its site, while allowing reasonable change to meet new needs. 

The four Preservation Award winners were:

A Merit Award for Exterior Restoration to the Graham Residence at 21031 Sydenham Road.  The owners of this English Tudor style home completed many repairs while staying true to the original look of the home.  The house was designed by George Howard Burrows and constructed in 1931.

A Merit Award for the Retention of Urban Fabric, Experience and Community Character to the owners of Shaker Commons, 16730-16834 Chagrin Boulevard.  Shaker Commons, a cluster of commercial buildings on the south side of Chagrin Boulevard across from Shaker Town Center, is at the center of one of the city’s original commercial areas.  These buildings were constructed between 1934 and 1938.  This project renovated six buildings and included facade restoration, new storefront windows, new paint, awnings and signage.

An Honor Award for Excellence in Stewardship for the Winslow Road Preservation Project.  Winslow Road is Shaker Heights’ newest local landmark district, designated in May 2007.  Winslow Road is the only street in Shaker Heights that consists entirely of two-family houses,  Most of the homes were constructed before 1929, making it one of the oldest streets in the city.  Winslow’s two-family homes were cleverly designed by prominent architects to retain the appearance of single family homes.  Thanks to matching grants from the Fund for the Future of Shaker Heights, 59 Winslow Road homeowners were able to complete exterior home improvement projects between 2006 and 2008.  Over the life of the program, the Fund for the Future allocated $317,000 in grants and homeowners invested an additional $413,000.  The total value of home improvements leveraged by the program is $730,000.

An Honor Award for Exterior Restoration to the Deitelbaum Residence at 2678 Eaton Road.  This beautiful Tudor home was designed by prominent Cleveland architect John Sherwood Kelly and constructed in 1928.  The current homeowners purchased the home several years ago and have since made a series of extensive repairs using original brochures and other reference materials from the Shaker Historical Society.  Deteriorating timbers and damaged stucco were replaced; damaged roof slate tiles were replaced; custom copper work included the replacement of scupper boxes, gutters and downspouts; a bay window was reconstructed; and a copper roof in the rear of the home was replaced.  In addition, new landscaping was completed all around the home.