Cincinnati to host preservationists for third Rust Belt Takeover

On Oct. 7-9, Cincinnati will play host to about 70 preservationists for the third Rust Belt Takeover. The first event by the same name was held in Pittsburgh earlier this year, and the second was in Buffalo; this is the first time the event will take place over three days.
 
“The Rust Belt Takeover brings a wide net of people from cities all across the country,” says Diana Tisue of the Cincinnati Preservation Collective, which is partnering with the Young Preservationists of Ohio for the event. “There will be a good mix of people from Cincinnati, Ohio and beyond.”
 
The Rust Belt Takeover isn’t just a CPC event — it’s a group effort among preservation groups from Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh, just to name a few. That collaborative spirit won’t stop at the end of the weekend, either.
 
Preservation groups support each other’s causes. When Tisue visited Pittsburgh and Buffalo for the first two Rust Belt Takeovers, she saw lots of “Save the Dennison” T-shirts. Before historic preservation meetings, words of encouragement have been passed back and forth from other organizations.
 
“It makes the preservation world more of a network where everyone is watching out for each other and offering support,” she says.
 
In turn, CPC has shown support for other groups, including preservationists in Fort Wright, Ind., who are trying to stop a developer from demolishing one of the city’s Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.
 
“This event is very timely for Cincinnati, and it brings together energized preservationists from all backgrounds and generations,” Tisue says. “It highlights that we’re all going through the same struggles, and we want to support each other as much as we can.”
 
Throughout the weekend, the preservationists will be taking a behind-the-scenes tour of Union Terminal with Grant Stevens, who has played an integral part in the building’s restoration. There will be a few other tours to, including one that will take people in buildings that are part of the OTR Adopt program, a downtown walking tour and a staircase tour.
 
CPC will take attendees to Walnut Hills to showcase what’s happening in the neighborhood, and there’s a scavenger hunt planned as well.
 
“This is an opportunity for us to really show off what’s going on in the city, especially in preservation,” Tisue says.
 
CPC also teamed up with Taft’s Ale House to brew a special beer — Preservation Ale — that will be available at a number of the weekend’s events.
 
This weekend, Cincinnati will also be the site of Heritage Ohio’s statewide conference, which many Takeover attendees will stay for.
 
There are a limited number of tickets still available for the weekend’s events. You can get yours here, as well as view a full schedule of events.
 
For more preservation events and to follow the Rust Belt Takeover and Heritage Ohio conference, search #preservetheNati on Instagram.