A Historic Preservationist for All Seasons
Living in history while residing in the original student quad during his University of Virginia undergraduate career was inspiration for Don Slesnick’s lifelong dedication to historic preservation. Over time that evolved into what he considers his preservation philosophy. He said he believes adaptive reuse can best accomplish the goal of protecting the shared memories contained in our built environment.
“Saving the built environment in relationship with our history, our past, reminds us of where we came from and where we are headed,” Slesnick said. “The built environment contains living memories, the stories of human achievement and tragedy. Saving historic buildings requires public support and preservationists must emphasize the relationship between saving places and saving our shared history.”
His preservation story includes serving on the Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board for 12 years, chairing in 1997 and working with the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board. Serving as president of the Dade Heritage Trust Preservation Foundation during this time led him to have conversations with preservationists in Tallahassee and Tampa – and caused him to be seen as a true Florida Preservationist. He was tapped by those Florida Trust supporters for board service and led the organization as board president from 1993 through1995. Advocating at the Florida State Capitol, building the organization by increasing the membership base, developing programs to create membership allegiance and establishing the National Trust joint membership opportunity were the focus of his Florida Trust service. Slesnick was recognized for his impact on historic preservation throughout Florida with the 2022 Florida Trust Legacy Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Florida Trust recognizing an individual’s whose life’s work exemplifies long-term guardianship of Florida’s history and heritage.
Before his preservation work in Florida, Slesnick had dual careers in active and reserve military service and began practicing law at the county, state and national levels upon returning from Vietnam in 1972. He established his private law practice in 1978 in Coral Gables. The law led to politics and a successful run for mayor of Coral Gables to set a record for four terms served. Here Slesnick’s historic preservation ethic was a guiding principle as he governed the city from 2001 to 2011. Prior experience establishing the Mediterranean Architectural Ordinance while leading the Planning and Zoning Board honed his dedication to applying historic preservation provisions already on the books. Slesnick saw the need to strengthen ordinances, pushing developers to use the same established Mediterranean architectural features with arcades and fenestration by providing incentives for following the guidelines in commercial building. Another important change was deleting the requirement of a building owner’s approval for a property to be declared historic by the City of Coral Gables. The city’s Historic Commission had room to work in maintaining Coral Gables according to founder George Merrick’s dedication to the City Beautiful movement.
Slesnick also saw to an overhaul of the Coral Gables zoning code. Overcoming pushback, his administration, in concert with the Historic Commission, successfully halted inappropriate construction of a new City Hall annex. Engaging community input led to a less intrusive plan to purchase an adjacent building to house city workers. More historic preservation policies enabled the City of Coral Gables to save landmarks important in their history; like the Venetian Pool, the Prado Entrance, the DeSoto Fountain, the Alhambra Water Tower and City Hall’s cupola. Slesnick also understood the realities and pressures of a growing city by favoring smart growth. New construction of buildings such as the Alhambra Towers and the Palace Coral Gables, residential development The Old Spanish Village and even a parking garage / Coral Gables Art Cinema all followed zoning code and embraced the Mediterranean esthetic and design standards.
Slesnick’s favorite restoration project is the Coral Gables Museum. Built in 1939, the Old Police and Fire Station is a beautiful example of WPA construction. The building also served as the county jail and then a courtroom. Its last iteration was an office building but was deteriorating rapidly. The City of Coral Gables worked with engineers to stabilize the building and then undertook restoration. Money was raised to add a wing and the reborn Coral Gables Museum opened in 2010 and celebrating the 1920’s planned community of Coral Gables, presenting exhibits and programs that examine the built environment.
The crowning achievement for Slesnick is his involvement in the Preservation Institute of St. Augustine. In 2008 the City of St. Augustine managed 45 of the most historic buildings in the town, but they were owned by the state of Florida. The City simply couldn’t manage the upkeep anymore. Roy Hunt, acclaimed historic preservationist, Florida Trust Founding member and Trustee Emeritus, developed the idea of the University of Florida taking over the management with the state providing some funding at the start. The plan moved forward with the UF Foundation creating UF Historic St. Augustine. Slesnick was a founding board member.
“UF saved St. Augustine,” Slesnick said simply when explaining why his work with the Preservation Institute of St. Augustine was so significant to him.
Funds were raised to maintain the properties, then rents could be collected. As St. Augustine’s future was secure, the PISA program developed between St. Augustine, UF and Flagler College. Students receive specialized training in the documentation of historic buildings, laboratory analysis and conservation of architectural materials and finishes.
During his lifetime, Don Slesnick has received a host of awards and accolades across his careers too numerous to list. Yet, he said he’s most proud not of his accomplishments but of his daughter Kathleen Kauffman, a professional historic preservationist who is
Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Gainesville, serves on the Florida Historical Commission and as past Executive Director of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
“As far back as I can remember, my father has always been incredibly passionate about historic preservation,” said Kauffman. “I remember when he was asked to be on the first Historic Preservation Advisory Council (now the Florida Historical Commission), which I now sit on. His impact on preservation in Florida is at the same level as those great leaders like Roy Hunt and Blaire Reeves, but he is too humble to recognize that. As much influence as he has had on my own career, he has had more influence, and continues to provide such, with his tireless advocacy for preserving our treasured historic resources.”