Tracking the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

Submitted by Caroline B. at: November 6, 2009
Is it not energy efficient and historically responsible to get old sashes working properly (both upper and lower) for proper air circulation? Is it not energy efficient and historically responsible to purchase (or have someone make) storm windows that work with these wonderful old sashes? Tax credits will help defray the cost of these manually intensive restoration expenses. And doing so will add so many more years to my 120 year old windows.

Submitted by E. Pidgeon at: April 9, 2009
I am saddened to see that this has turned into (another) $$ for 'energy contractors' program stimulus package. As others have noted, wouldn't it have made sense to distribute/allocate funds through existing channels such as the State Offices of Historic Preservation? To date in our community the most unlicensed contractor fraud practiced (documented) has been by individuals posing as contractors who sell people on ripping out all their windows in favor of vinyl windows. What they don't say is that it'd take over 30 years to recoup the costs and that the new windows won't last that long. In addition they don't take out permits to do it, neatly circumventing our landmarks commission - who then has to be the bad guys. The usual target: elderly people who've heard the hype in their energy bill newsletters.

Submitted by SC transplant at: March 2, 2009
Ok, the bill's not everything we hoped for, but it's great that the National Trust is making us aware of what actually got included and will affect our work. Lobbying on the Hill is a job I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, so assuming NTHP dropped the ball is probably unfair. Congressmen need to hear from their constituents. Now we on the ground can know what's going on-- go out, advocate, consult for historic windows and sensitive rehabilitation and everything else complained about in previous comments.

Submitted by yapperman at: February 27, 2009
The so-called "weatherization" community organizations are hiring new workers across our country in droves to needlessly rape to our historic properties. Tax credits and incentives to rip out our presious old growth, historic windows have these community action organizations drooling like a rabid dog. Up to now we were only seeing between 7 & 12 million orginal wood sashes dumped into our landfills each and every year. With the new stimulus package we can expect to see this number double as a result of the totally anti-green, anti preservation legislation. The only pro-preservation, pro-green things I can find in this bill are a 15% tax credit for installing storm windows; a 30% tax credit for geo-thermal HVAC and Solar with no cap. The problem, of course, is that cheesy aluminum storms will be installed. I can find no specifications on what storms will be allowed. I am very disappointed with this bill and don't understand how The National Trust lobbiest's, that we help pay for, blew this so badly. Go back to the President & Congress and fix this so we can make our historic properties truly energy efficient by rehabbing and keeping one of the most important features of any historic structure---ORIGINAL WINDOWS!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Vinnie at: February 24, 2009
I'm currently watching my own state government close down or cut back on major historical landmarks, such as Washington's Crossing Park, the Trenton battlefield and Parvins State Park. This bill will not help them at all. They have been trying to build on or around these areas for quite some time, and this bill will allow them to build right on the sites, taking away large chunks of our cultural heritage and closing museums. The buildings I'm sure will be energy efficient and will create jobs, but at the expense of our national heritage and identity. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll name the building after Washington. This bill does nothing to promote historical preservation on a large scale. It is insufficient to meet the needs of our national parks and landmarks. I'm shocked that the NTHP supports this. Someone must be paying somebody, and it's surely not our historians, guides, preservation specialists or anyone else associated with what I felt was the NTHP's cause. THIS is not what I signed up for

Submitted by Janet at: February 21, 2009
I would like to see the NTHP undertake an emergency campaign to save the nation's old windows from misguided ideas about energy-efficiency, or the stimulus bill will become the greatest disaster for character-defining historic fabric there ever was.

Submitted by Mimi at: February 20, 2009
The authors of the stimulus package not only ignored the benefits of historic preservation (protecting the environment, creating jobs, revitalizing older communities, and increasing tourism) but they also authored legislation that will encourage the alteration of significant historic building features in the guise of saving energy. think the National Trust now needs to focus its attention on educating the public about the value of preserving original wood windows and doors, which can last a couple of centuries or more if properly maintained. Most of the repacement windows installed over the past thirty-five years have performed very poorly.

Submitted by Kmom at: February 19, 2009
How sad - people are still missing the point. Many of the forclosed homes were in inner cities - sold to memebers fo the community that could not afford them. Why are we going to do it all over again? This "stimulous" is just like restocking a buffet. As Americans we need to stop "eating at the buffet" and stuffing ourselves to get the most for our money, and instead - carefully select anything that goes on our plate and be able to pay for it.

Submitted by Tim S at: February 18, 2009
The tax credit for placing beautiful, functional, potentially energy efficient windows in a landfill and replacing with with vinyl is unthinkable. The energy savings are minimal and even negative when embodied energy and life cycle is considered. How did this happen? The 10% credit didn't have much impact. The 30% credit with a $1,500 cap will keep the destruction and decline in architecture going strong. Do we ("preservationists") have a voice in Congress? How is it that our government is needlessly encouraging the disposal of our heritage in craftsmanship -and replacing it with disposable components. Sorry for the rage. My window business was just set to begin.

Submitted by Little Tennessee at: February 18, 2009
Please take a moment for the mountains, rivers, farmlands, and beauty of western North Carolina. Macon Co has government officials who act like vultures. Tear down the schools and build new ones. Its federal money (like it is free). Build more houses. (Most are summer homes and half of the others are sitting empty, yet there's more destruction/construction. It seems all the leaders have one-tract minds. The community knows that once its gone, its gone. No more mountains, farmland or rivers. They want to tear down a historical school "Cowee" built in 1930's by the CCC. ,was built before WWII. (How do things get listed as historical places?) Now they want to make the airport larger. It is already built on top of the graves of many Cherokee. But that's not enough. Also, it will be very near a school that is in the plans to be torn down and rebuilt.??? Come and look at the destruction taking place on our beautiful mountains and rivers. The people of the county say NO NO NO, so how can this happen?? Now the DOT wants to replace a Pratt Through Truss bridge, which they said was built in the 1960's. It was built before WWII. When people don't want something, why do they have to accept it, then PAY for it??? The construction/destruction can only go on for so long. It is not a long term solution. Just DESTRUCTION.

Submitted by HPGirl at: February 18, 2009
If you think this is bad, wait till the state and local governments get through with it. Would it not have been awesome if the state HPOs actually got alocated a portion of these funds. After all they are the governmental experts on the issue not the SBA

Submitted by CCM at: February 17, 2009
Uh, so where's the stimulus funding for preservation? Sorry National Trust, your analysis is wishful thinking. There are too few people in this world who 1) have the power to make decisions on what gets done with the built environment and 2) have a preservation ethic and training in the field. Sorry, but when push comes to shove, a pile 'o dough doens't mean squat for preservation. So much for the National Trust lobbyists! Was someone on vacation?

Submitted by Jeff Myers at: February 17, 2009
I am split on this bill. 1st off history tells us that we have had tough times before like FDR I think Obama is doing the right thing. The thing is that We shouldn't be in this mess if the first stimulus had not been done this stimulus looks to effective what was Bush's stimulus bill anyway. I don't care about the cost of it I care about the Debt that Mine and Future Generations will have to do to pay it off. I am 18 almost 19 and I wish that the government would listen to us not to what to do my generation should have a word in this and I think we are always shoved aside. I guess that is what we are here for is to pay for stupid government mistakes. Obama is doing right bush did it all wrong simply put.

Submitted by a long time preservtionist at: February 16, 2009
I am terribly disappointed with the direction this organization is taking. A cause worthy of action should not need to be associated with this type of legislation.

Submitted by Mimi at: February 13, 2009
is there any way to get the $55 million Historic preservation Fund to States and Tribes reinstated? Is there any way to eliminate the Senate's amendment to prohibit Stimulus funding to Museums and Art Centers, etc?? (What were they thinking?)

Submitted by BuffaloGal at: February 12, 2009
Preservation related funding should only be awarded to cities and towns who demonstrate respect for historical preservation efforts and a willingness to work collaboratively with local preservation groups. Continuing ed courses should be a requirement for any government department receiving Presv. $$$. NTHP should work with local colleges to offer these CE courses to insure that political decision makers have a clear understanding of what their role is in allocating and legislating funds for historical preservation. Future stimulus $$ should be driven by performance not politics.

Submitted by nellie at: February 11, 2009
FOOT SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND IN GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY CARRYING THE WATER WHEN IT COMES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESERVATION, NOT HBCU'S. NO FUNDS TO THEM UNLESS THEY SUPPORT COMMUNITY INITIATIVES I SAY.

Submitted by Green at: February 11, 2009
From visits to Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Blue Ridge Park Way in recent years, it is apparent that the parks must be made safer. Railings are to low and often are not even where visitors to the parks are injured or killed. Some steps are cracked and worn down. The state of these parks is a disgrace to this great nation and over my lifetime of 65 years have all gone down hill. Repairs and upgrades to the parks would create jobs but let's make certain that they go to American citizens and not to illegal immigrants via contracts, etc. Our own people need jobs. We do not need to bring in people either illegally or via visas to do this work.

Submitted by Anonymous at: February 11, 2009
I am disappointed that the National Trust has jumped on this pork-laden so-called stimulus plan...have you lost your collective minds?

Submitted by loftman at: February 11, 2009
It's a pity to miss a chance to really invigorate rehabilitation of historic CBDs and urban cores by not including redevelopment of historic buildings for lofts/condominiums in an expanded tax credit program. It would dramatically increase the move toward sustainability in our towns and cities by making it cost effective to redevelop there instead of building new at the periphery.