About
Our History
Past Perfect, Inc. was established in 1996 by Rebecca Smith-Hoffman and Jennifer Metz to provide consulting in all areas related to historic preservation and historic architecture, including the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit Certification Applications, National Register of Historic Places Nominations, archival research, paint color selection, project management for historic rehabilitation and preservation projects, historic resources survey, representation at local Historic District Commission meetings, site location, Section 106 reports, tours, and lectures related to historic architecture.
Our Partners
Principals Metz and Smith-Hoffman are certified 36 CFR 61 in Architectural History and History respectively by the State of Michigan.
Ms. Smith-Hoffman has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award as a preservation advocate by the Michigan Historic Preservation Network and is the unofficial point person in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the history of its architecture and urban change through her personal knowledge and private archival collection.
Since 1996, Ms. Metz has taught Art History, Architectural History, and Historic Preservation as an adjunct faculty member at Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both have extensive experience presenting to community groups, at conferences, and as guest lecturers in college courses related to history, architecture, and urban planning.
The firm has a proven success record and personal connections with local, state, and national government.
A Few of Our Projects
Examples of the types of projects completed by Past Perfect include coordination and writing for the inventory and designation of two downtown local historic districts for Mackinac Island, Michigan; the American Seating Furniture Factory Historic District and Federal Historic PreservationTax Credit Application; Project Management of the Bowne Center Schoolhouse Restoration Project; the Hardscrabble House/Traverse City Historic Resource Evaluation for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. See our Portfolio for more.
Our Community Involvement
- East Hills Council of Neighbors
- Auburn Hills Historic Recognition Committee
- Grand Rapids Historical Commission
- Grand Rapids Historical Society
- Michigan Historic Preservation Network
- Kent County Council for Historic Preservation
- East Grand Rapids Public Schools