Why We Preserve: The Value of Historic Preservation

Historic preservation is more than saving old buildings - it is a vital public purpose that strengthens communities culturally, environmentally, socially, and economically. By protecting the built environment, we preserve stories, identities, and resources that would otherwise be lost. Below are the key reasons why historic preservation matters and why it continues to be an essential tool for thriving communities.

Historic preservation helps maintain the architectural and aesthetic character of a community, creating a strong and shared sense of place. Historic buildings connect residents and visitors directly to the past, allowing history to be experienced firsthand and fostering respect for those who lived in earlier times.

Preserved neighborhoods often become landmarks in people's lives, building pride and long-term emotional connections. Architecture itself is a fine art, and preservation ensures that significant examples - whether unique styles, periods, or master works - are protected for future generations.

Preservation has also been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court as a legitimate public purpose, recognizing the importance of safeguarding buildings and districts that reflect a community's cultural, social, political, spiritual, and architectural history. Historic landscapes and streetscapes further create shared memories, reinforce community identity, and foster civic beauty and pride at local, regional, state, and national levels.

Historic preservation is often described as the ultimate form of recycling. By reusing existing buildings, we keep massive amounts of construction debris out of landfills - construction waste in the U.S. has historically exceeded municipal solid waste.

Older neighborhoods are typically denser, more compact, and more walkable, encouraging fewer car trips and supporting more sustainable lifestyles. Preservation also prevents the waste of embodied energy - the energy already spent to extract, manufacture, transport, and assemble building materials.

Additionally, historic building methods were often adapted to local climates. Features such as cross-ventilation, natural lighting, shading, large overhangs, and climate-responsive design can perform better environmentally than many modern structures.

"Historic preservation is often described as the ultimate form of recycling."

In an era of design uniformity, people are drawn to historic districts for their authenticity, charm, and distinct character. Locally designed historic districts protect a community's unique identity by requiring review and approval of major exterior changes, preventing irreversible loss.

Historic buildings often feature craftsmanship and detailing that would be prohibitively expensive to replicate today. Many historic neighborhoods also support income diversity, offering a range of unit sizes and housing prices due to closely spaced buildings.

Designed before the dominance of the automobile, pre-1950 neighborhoods are more people-scaled, fostering walkability and social interaction. Historic places help communities celebrate their past, confront difficult histories, and preserve stories through research and oral histories. Together, these elements create a living record of communities and the people who shaped them.

Historic preservation supports traditional building methods and skilled craftsmanship while serving as a powerful tool for community revitalization. It can rapidly reinvigorate neighborhoods and stimulate local economic development.

Historic buildings are often eligible for financial incentives and subsidies unavailable to new construction, marking preservation financially attractive. Preservation projects tend to be more labor - and skill-intensive - keeping investment local, whereas new construction is often more material-intensive.

Studies show that designated historic districts frequently outperform non-designated areas in real estate returns and experience less market volatility. Preservation also reduces sprawl by encouraging reinvestment in already urbanized areas.

Local landmarking promotes neighborhood stability and cohesion, encouraging residents to maintain and protect their own heritage. Adaptive reuse keeps older buildings relevant and functional, while heritage tourism brings visitors who spend more money and stay longer in historic areas.

Finally, many older buildings were designed with smaller ground-floor retail spaces, creating vibrant street life and offering affordable, human-scaled spaces ideal for small businesses and start-ups.

Historic preservation is not about resisting change - it's about managing growth in a way that honors the past while supporting sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive communities. By preserving historic buildings and districts, we invest in cultural identity, environmental responsibility, social connection, and economic resilience.

Preservation ensures that the places that tell our collective story remain part of our shared future.