Historic Preservation

Restoration, especially of historically significant properties, is rarely simple. Done well, it is a painstaking, meticulous operation. Historical preservationists are beholden to modern building codes, historical aesthetics, demands for contemporary amenities, and the sentimentality of people who love the space for everything it represents.

It’s complicated. But it’s worth it.

Why? Because historic preservation is a confident investment in a community. Transforming vacant or under-appreciated spaces into functioning buildings raises property values, spurs further development, and imbues an area with energy and vitality.

It’s one thing to develop a new property on an abandoned lot. But to see the existing structure for what it represents and the stories it can tell — and to enable those stories to be preserved for future generations — that’s more than development. That’s glue for the community. It’s saying: “We have a shared heritage here, and this space is representative of that heritage.”

Without the efforts of preservationists and restorers, tangible aspects of our history would be lost forever. Historic properties are part of a region’s identity and culture. Nothing — not even an artificial replica — carries the impact of the real thing. (Can you imagine if Buckingham Palace or the Pyramids of Egypt were replaced with “modern interpretations”?)

For some people, the green aspects of property restoration vs. new development are reason enough to get behind historic preservation. For others, it’s the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of past generations and re-live their stories. For still others, it’s an affinity for the aesthetics and way of life of a bygone era.

Whatever your reason for supporting historic preservation, we thank you for it.