Hanna Stark | City of Detroit Planning and Development Department, Preservation Design

Hanna Stark (MSHP '21) shares her summer internship experience:

"This summer, I was a PennPraxis Design Fellow, where through Professor Mason, I was able to remotely intern at the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department. This role is part of the Detroit-Philadelphia Preservation Exchange funded by the Knight Foundation. I had three specific projects this summer, focusing on tactical preservation, a program that encourages the phased, incremental reuse of vacant buildings.

For the first two projects, I reported to Ann Phillips, an Historic Preservation Architect. The first task was to create a one-page document to educate the public on tactical preservation details. This was an excellent starting point, as I was able to deepen my understanding of the initiative. Second, I was asked to provide schematic designs, following tactical preservation principles, for Smoken’ Aces, a vacant, former night club. I researched zoning requirements and the Michigan rehabilitation code to ensure all my proposed uses were viable. I developed five proposals for the space, utilizing my architecture background.

For my final project, I reported to Garrick Landsberg, the Director of Historic Preservation. Part of tactical preservation’s goal is to streamline the application and permitting process for projects. To support this, I was asked to begin developing a rules manual that allows the public to understand this process better. A focus was the twenty-two unique elements of design for each of Detroit’s fifty multi-building historic districts. These design elements guide rehabilitation and construction in the district, and currently, they can only be found in Detroit’s City Code. Making these more accessible to the public and contractors is a priority.

Each of my three projects allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Detroit’s efforts to encourage tactical preservation. I am so grateful for Professor Mason, the Knight Foundation, and PennPraxis for allowing me to have this opportunity to learn from Ann and Garrick."