Featured Publications

A Manual for Pennsylvania Historical Architectural Review Boards and Historical Commissions, published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1998.

“After reading many documents, the committee members agreed that the Manual was invaluable. It is the most comprehensive work we could locate and will be referred to again and again…besides being comprehensive, the Manual is easy to read.” Maryalice Hagan, Newtown Borough Focus Committee.

“I am very impressed with the amount of information [the Manual] contains. I think you have succeeded in your aim to create a manual that avoids bureaucratic language with good advice to local commission.” Richard Wagner, Director and professor of Master of Arts in Historic Preservation, Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland.

“I am very impressed with the Manual for HARB and Historical Commissions—a valuable resource.” Brent D. Glass, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

“[The HARB members] felt that the Manual was well prepared…. it will help answer many questions that come before them during the course of the year. They especially appreciated the review of the approval process required for certificates of appropriateness.” Borough of Mercersburg, HARB meeting minutes

HARB bulletin

“At the last meeting of our HARB I distributed all the materials directed to me including the Winter1994-1995 HARB Bulletin…. The HARB bulletins are much appreciated. We mine every word, every page. Comments offered about the last one were ‘very helpful,’ ‘candid,’ [and] ‘instructive.’” Robert H. Thurman, PhD, Chairman

The Takings Issue: Will Pennsylvania Buckle Under Special Interests?

“On behalf of Pratt Cassity, our Chair, Noré Winter, and the Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for providing the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions with the opportunity to publish “The Takings Issue: Will Pennsylvania Buckle Under Special Interests?” Your excellent article forms a significant contribution to understanding the ongoing and continuously-evolving discussion about private property rights, takings, and the impact of influence of public perception of these issues on our state legislature. Our member commissions, as well as our many non-commission members, will most certainly benefit from reading such an insightful piece.” Connie Malone, Program Assistant

Other Publications, Articles, Reports & Newsletters

 

“Interludio Musical,” Insync, Aug/Sept 1974

“The Independent Producer,” Insync, April/May 1975

“Che-Lumumba-Jackson Collective,” Insync, Aug/Sept 1975

The Access Workbook Vol. I, Vol. II New York University. Alternate Media Center. 1977. (Contributor)

Preliminary Research Report for the Comprehensive Historic Sites Survey of Reading, Pennsylvania , City of Reading. March 27, 1978 (coauthored)

“Reading Then and Now,” Historical Review of Berks County, Summer, 1979

“Rediscovering Reading: Another Gritty City,” County Life, June 1979

“Reading’s Past Will Be Part of Its Future,” Pennsylvania Heritage, Fall 1979

“Comprehensive Historical Sites Survey: Final Report,” City of Reading, 1979 (coauthored)

Historic Preservation, Reading Pennsylvania: A Proposal by the Reading Planning Commission, September 1980. (co-authored)

Façade Improvement Handbook, City of Reading, 1988

HARBulletin, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Historical Architectural Review Board Quarterly Newsletter 1989 to 1993

“Historic District Designation: Panacea or Placebo?” Cultural Resource Management Vol. 18, No. 4, 1995 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

“Latinos in Historic Districts—Whose History? Whose Neighborhoods” Cultural Resource Management, National Park Service. Volume 20, No. 11, 1997

Historic District Designation in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1997

A Manual for Pennsylvania Historical Architectural Review Boards and Historical Commissions, PA Historical and Museum Comm., 1998.

“Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Plan: Partnerships and Public Outreach.” Cultural Resource Management. Volume 23, No. 7, 2000

“A Valuable Gift to Pennsylvania” The Pennsylvanian: The Magazine for Local Governments, July 2000

Land Use in Pennsylvania: Practices and Tools: An Inventory. “The Certified Local Government Program”; “Historic District Act”; “Historic Preservation Zoning/Municipalities Planning Code” Department of Community and Economic Development, January 2000.

“The Certified Local Government Program” Pennsylvania Borough News, PSAB, January 2002

“Drug Store Chains Come to Boroughs but it Doesn’t Always Spell R-E-L-I-E-F” Pennsylvania Borough News. July 2003.

“Gettysburg Borough 2003 PSAB Historic Preservation Award Winner”, Pennsylvania Borough News, July 2003

“Traditional Neighborhood Development: Balancing Preservation with Economic Development”, Pennsylvania Borough News, September 2003

Cultural Resources Identification and the Preservation Planning Process, Michel R. Lefevre and Andrea MacDonald, League of Cities and Municipalities

Pennsylvania History Helping to Forge Intergovernmental Cooperation, Borough News

Some Thoughts on the Successful Administration of a Historic District Ordinance, Pennsylvania Borough News

Traditional Neighborhood Development: Balancing Economic Growth with the Retention of the Hometown Environment, Pennsylvania Borough News

When Historic Preservation is Too Little Too Late, Pennsylvania Borough News

Walk Through History for Health and Inspiration, Pennsylvania Borough News

Taking Precedence: Historic Properties and the UCC Michel R. Lefevre, AICP and Jon C. Balson, Pennsylvania Borough News

In Praise of Boroughs, Pennsylvania Borough News

Why Plan When Everything Seems Like and Emergency? Pennsylvania Borough News

“A Half Century of Preservation in Pennsylvania 1955-2005″ Kenneth C. Wolensky and Michel R. Lefevre, Heritage Magazine

Latinos and their Impact on Historic Districts, Pennsylvania Borough News

The Municipalities Planning Code and Historic Preservation Regulations, APA PA.