Many high school students will likely not pursue four-year majors in historic preservation; however, they could benefit from taking an introductory course that introduces them to historic buildings and why it is important to protect them.
First step to saving a historical building is identifying its purpose; this could range from residential use, office use or museum exhibit.
1. They Tell a Story
History-rich buildings add depth and diversity to a city. Their histories often connect them to historical events or periods; others have even become associated with famous people from history. Historic structures give cities character and culture that both visitors and residents appreciate.
Unfortunately, historic buildings are at constant risk of destruction or conversion into shopping centers or other commercial facilities. One way to combat this threat is convincing the public of its value and engaging them in its preservation.
Renovation that alters historic properties poses another threat, including adding modern features that alter its look or altering the original layout. Once these characteristics have been lost, a building cannot be considered historic anymore.
2. They Are Unique
Historic buildings play an essential part in telling the stories of many cities, providing insight into its past. Be it beautiful examples of architecture or memorializing major events from its history, these structures play a unique role in making cities distinct and should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Historical buildings are constructed using durable, long-term materials that may not be found in modern architecture. Removing historic structures that have stood through wars and natural disasters would be a waste of both resources and effort invested.
Renovating historic structures rather than demolishing them and rebuilding is often cheaper and requires less resources. Renovation is also the more energy-efficient choice.
3. They Add Character to a City
Buildings are integral parts of a city’s character, whether they symbolize something significant or simply offer unique style and distinction. Loss or degradation of historic structures is a loss for their surrounding community as a whole.
Historic buildings often use higher quality materials than newer structures, making them far more durable. Furthermore, their reduced maintenance requirements make them more eco-friendly.
People of all ages love staying in historic hotels, visiting historic neighborhoods or dining at restaurants located in historic buildings. Visitors are drawn in by their architecture while local residents may want to preserve its character.
4. They Increase Property Value
As more money is invested into historic buildings, their appraised values increase; this can result in higher property taxes. But there are ways to stop this increase from taking effect: working with local historic preservation groups, main street revitalization organizations or historical societies may allow you to strike a deal with your city that keeps the property tax rate consistent.
Older buildings tend to be constructed using superior materials that are more resilient against weather elements than those used today, which makes replacing these older materials impractical and expensive. Furthermore, many older structures contain rare wood species like heart pine that may not be readily available on today’s building market.
Unfortunately, overly restrictive historic preservation laws can wreak havoc on a city’s overall economic health. To address this issue, cities should conduct cost-benefit analyses similar to federal Regulatory Impact Analysis studies to better assess these laws’ costs and benefits.
5. They Increase Property Taxes
Historic buildings contain not just four walls but memories and stories from those who have interacted with it throughout its existence, and when these historic structures are torn down we lose so much history along with it.
Historic preservation fosters a sense of pride within an area. Historic buildings serve as reminders of our past and can motivate us to continue preserving it in the present.
Save an historic building requires time and effort, but it can be accomplished. Many cities offer organizations dedicated to the preservation of historic properties that specialize in saving these treasures from demolition or an inappropriate renovation. They can offer resources like volunteers to make the process smoother while offering financial aid such as tax credits when renovating an historic property.
