Leadership Transition at Oregon’s State Office of Historic Preservation
Pictured Above: Chrissy Curran
Pictured Above: Chrissy Curran's 25 years by the numbers; Graphic Credit OregonHeritage.
Chrissy Curran, Oregon’s deputy state historic preservation officer (SHPO), retired at the end of June after 25 years of service. And, Ian Johnson has been appointed to the deputy SHPO position after serving as the associate deputy. We recognize Chrissy’s leadership and impact in Oregon and welcome Ian to the new role.
Chrissy Curran’s Impact in Oregon
The Oregon Heritage division put together an overview of Curran’s impact over the last 25 years that helps provide deeper insight on the many facets of work accomplished under her leadership.
These statistics are truly impressive but in addition to all that, Curran worked with Restore Oregon to bring back the Historic Property Special Assessment program, Oregon’s only financial historic preservation incentive. HB 3190 was signed into law in June, just a few weeks before Curran retired. The program will become operational before the close of this year. It was SHPO’s policy role and technical expertise that we relied upon as the policy basis for the bill. Its success was in great part due to Chrissy’s ability to educate the Legislature on the need and impact to our historic resources throughout the State.
And, as the Oregon Historical Society recently shared in their newsletter recognizing Curran’s retirement and connections to their work together:
“Curran joined the Oregon preservation office, part of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), over 25 years ago and has worked as federal and state compliance coordinator, National Register coordinator, and as associate deputy state historic preservation officer. Curran’s many accomplishments and contributions to the state include service on the Oregon Historical Quarterly (OHQ) Editorial Advisory Board, where she brought insights and ideas about the ways history is preserved in the built environment. She helped lead the journal’s work to recognize the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act through a special section in the Fall 2016 issue of OHQ — including Curran’s reflections on the importance of Space, Style and Structure: Building in Northwest America, a bicentennial commemorative study published by OHS.”
Ian Johnson appointed Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
From Oregon Heritage’s blog:
Ian Johnson, with over two decades of historic preservation experience has been named Oregon’s new Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. “We are grateful Ian has accepted this role,” noted Lisa Sumption, the state’s Historic Preservation Officer and director of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). “Ian has served admirably at the Associate Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for nearly 10 years and his work demonstrates the skills, integrity, and quality needed to take Oregon’s preservation program into the future.”
Johnson joined the Oregon preservation office in 2007 beginning in the survey and inventory programs. He has also worked in state and federal compliance and developed the current Oregon Historic Preservation Plan. Johnson also brings extensive experience related to intergovernmental agreements, Oregon Revised Statutes, and Oregon Administrative Rules.
Ian developed an interest in historic preservation while attending Washington State University, where he completed a historic property survey in the College Hill neighborhood. He later worked in the private sector and as a preservation planner under contract for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona. Additionally, he served for many years on the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission.
Johnson will be responsible for the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) programs. He will take lead on working with budget, state and federal legislative activities, high-level agency and partner organization relationship development.