Community Revitalization
Georgetown Streetscape
Historic preservation can strengthen communities for the benefit of all residents.
Historic preservation is a tool that enables citizens to protect the older and historic buildings in their communities that are important to them. A building's importance may be derived from its historical context, its architectural style, its beauty, its previous inhabitants or its past function in the community. Each building tells a unique story that provides tangible clues about our society, both past and present. Its presence in the community provides a reassuring link to previous generations, helping to define what makes that area's heritage special: the people who lived, worked and played in those spaces and who continue to do so. Saving these structures for present and future generations to enjoy thus has direct aesthetic, cultural, social, and psychological value.
Our Position
Community revitalization and historic preservation are uniquely compatible principles. When used together, they create sustainable, vibrant places to live work and play. At its essence, preservation-based community development uses existing historic resources—the older and historic built environment—to improve the quality of life for residents of all income levels. Historic preservation can be employed to create and preserve affordable housing, generate jobs, retain existing businesses, attract new ones, increase civic participation and bolster a community’s sense of place.
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The preservation of our nation’s older and historic buildings also has a direct bearing on the quality of life in our downtowns, small towns and urban neighborhoods. Studies show that our nation’s older and historic neighborhoods provide safe, affordable homes to live in, stable communities with high rates of homeownership, proximity to schools, churches, jobs and transit centers, vibrant commercial districts that provide goods and services to nearby residents.
The Role of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation supports preservation-based community revitalization through its technical, financial, informational and advocacy resources. We support funding and incentives for the preservation and revitalization of distressed or disinvested communities; support the revitalization of downtown and neighborhood commercial districts as economic generators and community anchors, and encourage public policy, local planning and zoning laws that encourage community revitalization and preservation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation works with statewide, city and local preservation organizations, community leaders, for-profit developers, public officials, community development corporations and Main Street communities -- to name a few--in integrating the dual objectives of community revitalization and historic preservation.
