Question

What is preservation?!

Answer 1

This study, commissioned by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, seeks to identify a finite number of indicators that can be used to regularly, consistently, meaningfully, and credibly measure the economic impact of historic preservation over time. This interest in the economic aspects of historic preservation is a reflection of how the preservation movement has evolved over time. The historic preservation movement began in the United States a century and a half ago. Many of the philosophical and legal approaches to preservation in America were taken from countries in Western Europe. But over the last 150 years American historic preservation has responded to the particular American political and economic context. Today historic preservation is a complex matrix of laws, incentives, policies and advocacy groups at the national, state, and local level. There is active participation from the public, private and non-profit sectors. This network of interests spans geographical, political, social and economic perspectives. More importantly, however, historic preservation has become a fundamental tool for strengthening American communities. It has proven to be an effective tool for a wide range of public goals including small business incubation, affordable housing, sustainable development, neighborhood stabilization,center city revitalization, job creation, promotion of the arts and culture, small town renewal, heritage tourism, economic development, and others. It was to better understand the economic roles and impact of historic preservation that this study was commissioned. In meeting the goals for this study five specific steps were taken: 1. An extensive literature review of the preservation/economics link was undertaken to understand what has been measured, by whom, how, and what have been the general findings. 2. Interviews were conducted among knowledgeable parties in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Interviewees were selected based on two criteria: a. their knowledge, expertise, and/or experience in historic preservation b. the likelihood that they would be potential users of historic preservation economic data if it were available. 3. An international symposium was held to better understand the current best practices in preservation economics analysis and to receive recommendations from scholars and practitioners in the field. 4. Interim briefings and updates were provided to the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation for comments and suggestions. 5. The final report and two related documents – a brief “popular report” and a PowerPoint presentation were prepared and delivered to the ACHP. Based on the lessons learned from existing studies and publications, interviews, and a symposiumconvened at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design in February 2011, seven conclusions were reached:
1Various aspects of historic preservation have substantial economic benefits as well as economic costs. While many may argue that the benefits to society, both financial and otherwise, outweigh the costs, the relationship between preservation and the economy as well as overall societal benefit remains imperfectly understood and only partially documented. 2. Research into the relationship between economics and historic preservation is critically needed. 3. There are multiple constituencies for this information, many of whom need the data and information presented in different forms. 4. Information must be consistent and credible, and its collection and dissemination ongoing. 5. While the research and methodologies require scholarly robustness, the information needs to be presented in non-academic terms. 6. While government needs to play an important role in data collection, analysis, and dissemination, it will probably be necessary for a number of private as well as public institutions
to gather and evaluate the data. 7. However, there will need to be one entity that is responsible for annually releasing relevant metrics on a predictable basis.