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The Challenge
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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?
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Mission #1
Explore Vibrancy
Share your definition of what vibrancy looks like where you live.
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Mission #2
Share Stories
Tell us about the cities and communities you know are currently struggling or in the process of revitalising.
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Mission #3
Get Active
Take some time to get active and explore your own community – then report back what you learned.
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Mission #4
Collect Insights
Interview someone living in a struggling city or region to learn more.
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Mission #5
Surprise Us
Got an Inspiration that doesn't fit the other Missions?
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Inspiration
Mission #1
Explore Vibrancy Find out more...
Preserving the Character and Culture of the Region
Historic preservation creates jobs and a demand for labor, craftsmen and materials. Preservation revitalizes historic downtowns, generates tax revenues, increases property values, provides opportunities for affordable housing, and is educational.
Many people know about the "Broken Window Theory"--where, to put it very simply, one broken window can lead to neighborhood deterioration if left un-fixed. Well, think of historic preservation as doing the opposite. One person, rehabilitating one building can inspire an entire neighborhood to participate in its revitalization-bringing cultural AND economic benefits to the community as a whole.
The best way to explain how preservation can impact a society economically is to show you the "Main Street" four-point plan for historic preservation:
MAIN STREET’S
FOUR-POINT STRATEGY
Organization
Many different groups working together for the shared goal of a vital downtown center.
Promotion
Promoting downtown as the center of activity through events and marketing,
positioning the downtown to be resilient to economic change.
Economic Restructuring
Enhancement of existing businesses through retention, expansion, and recruitment of new businesses.
Design
Encouraging rehabilitation of existing buildings and street-scape enhancement,
and working to create an attractive pedestrian-friendly downtown center.
So, what I am saying is this: there is no perfect answer to creating a vibrant community. What needs to happen is this; people need to work together with neighbors, organizations (local and national) and businesses to create a plan that INCLUDES preservation and which addresses issues and concerns that are unique to their community.
Historic preservation also is the perfect way to incorporate new and emerging technologies. Because historic preservation is inherently "green" it conserves a community's resources. But, because an historically preserved building is less expensive than building a new structure, investors and owners can focus more of their budget on investing in energy-efficient appliances and other energy saving materials, further "greening" the buildings that are rehabilitated.
Finally, the best and most important part of preservation is that it provides the opportunity for community members to experience the history and culture of their region in a literal way. The building is a 3-dimensional expression of an immaterial idea--the idea that our communities are the result of generations of ideas, experiences, and people who lived their lives in and around these buildings. No one can bring a building back to life without also breathing life back into the community which surrounds it. The local economics of a city depend heavily on the local participation of it's people, and so a community should embrace history and change all at once. It is why the best and most vibrant cities thrive.
Mission #1
Explore Vibrancy Find out more...
Comments
December 05, 2011, 05:14AM
Lauren Capo's reply to Lindsay Wright's comment
December 07, 2011, 10:37PM
November 27, 2011, 08:24PM
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