This month’s Emeriti Spotlight is Friederike Mittner, FAICP. Mittner is a distinguished planner and historic preservationist who has managed 19 historic districts and over 5,000 cultural resources in West Palm Beach and evaluated properties for landmark designation. She advocates for adaptive reuse projects and encourages making historic preservation projects economically viable as well as a sustainable solution in the planning field.
During her tenure with the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation from 2007 to 2019, Mittner held key leadership positions including serving as Board President in 2017 to 2019. Ultimately her impact was recognized by her being designated as Trustee Emerita in 2024. A defining highlight of her leadership occurred in 2016 when she spearheaded a rigorous national search for a new Executive Director for the Florida Trust. The board sought a leader with exceptional business, marketing and nonprofit acumen to elevate the organization to the next level while maintaining a passion for historic preservation. This led to the hiring of our current CEO & President Melissa Wyllie.
“My service on the Florida Trust Board was incredibly fulfilling as you are surrounded by people who are passionate and realistic about historic preservation,” said Mittner. “Everyone is incredibly supportive of the organization and mindful of its mission, volunteering an amazing amount of time and financial resources to contribute to the betterment of a shared history of Florida.”
Growing up in a 1920 Mediterranean Revival home in Coral Gables designed by Phineas Paist instilled in Mittner a deep appreciation for historic architecture. Further travel fueled her fascination with the materials of old buildings, such as the smell of old wood, the warmth of clay tiles and the cool touch of terrazzo floors. This love for architecture led her to pursue a master’s degree in architectural studies with a historic preservation track from the University of Florida, along with studies at the Preservation Institute Nantucket. Initially volunteering as a historic board commissioner in Lake Worth, she transitioned into a staff role and ultimately chose a more regulatory path in planning because it allowed for more dynamic, direct interaction at the local community level.
Her overarching preservation philosophy centers on balancing flexibility with the big picture rather than fighting rigid battles over small details. She emphasized that maintaining overall massing and human scale is vital for safeguarding a genuine sense of place. Furthermore, she expresses strong encouragement regarding the evolution of modern historic preservation toward a more inclusive approach that embraces broader cultural heritage along with physical architecture.
Since 2015, Mittner has shared her expertise nationally through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, participating in the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program for over eleven years. In this capacity, she trains and supports historic preservation boards across the country, equipping them with inclusive strategies for engaging local citizens and establishing or strengthening historic preservation programs, ordinances and advocacy efforts. She loves coming into a new community and working with other commissions. Serving as an enthusiastic advocate and cheerleader for local preservation commissions, she delights in reminding communities of the unique cultural gifts embedded within their built environments. Mittner also serves as vice president for the American Easement Foundation, a nonprofit organization that receives, holds and monitors preservation easements across the United States.
Continuing her hands-on practice, Mittner has spent the last three years working as architectural review and historic preservation manager for the Town of Palm Beach, applying her skills to buildings and materials of a distinct scale.
Among her extensive career achievements, three local initiatives in West Palm Beach stand out as personal favorites. The first is the establishment of the Sunshine Park historic district, an intact neighborhood of 1920s Mission-style homes that galvanized residents to seek formal designation after unwanted infill development threatened their streetscape. The second is the Northwest district, a historically Black neighborhood where she championed the preservation of the unique architectural scale and historic integrity of the structures. And a whole-scale code rewrite that quantified building size, scale and mass into zoning regulations for the historic districts.
Reflecting on the factors driving her professional success, Mittner credits exceptional mentors who shaped her trajectory, specifically highlighting influential Florida Trust board members and fellow Trustees Emeriti Ellen Uguccioni and Clay Henderson for their inspiring leadership and poise under pressure.
“Friederike is a consummate professional who recognizes that true preservation thrives at the local level,” Henderson said. “Her dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on historic preservation in Florida ”.
Mittner’s career accomplishments were recognized when she received the high honor of being inducted into the prestigious American Institute of Certified Planners College of Fellows in 2022. Achieving fellowship status through a rigorous nomination process was a humbling experience for her as so many stepped up with letters of support. Being named a Fellow for Mittner feels like a harmonious intersection of her dual passions for urban planning and historic preservation. Through that philosophy, Mittner continues to protect Florida’s historic places and work to build stronger communities.