Planning for historic preservation has evolved far beyond saving the homes of famous people. As preservation planner Amy Facca describes, it now involves the revitalization of historic downtowns, as well as commercial, residential, and even industrial districts. As such, preservation has become an important economic development tool. A look at the basics of planning for historic preservation.

Plus: Donovan Rypkema on why historic preservation is integral to the principles of 'Smart Growth;' Julia H. Miller answers some of the most frequently asked questions about preservation ordinances; Wayne Senville describes how one of the most dramatic impacts historic preservation can have is through the restoration of historic theaters; and Edward McMahon takes a look at some of the impacts historic district zoning has on tourism, job creation, and property values.

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Across the country there are signs of a renewed interest in our communities' historic resources. Abandoned, vacant, and underutilized historic buildings are being converted into distinctive, mixed-use venues combining retail, residential, and office uses. Neglected, but once spectacular, theaters are being restored as new performance spaces. Historic residential districts and neighborhoods are being reinvigorated. As these transformations take place, historic preservation is being seen as providing tangible benefits to communities large and small.

Many of us have taken time to visit places noted for their historic character, whether larger cities like Savannah, Georgia; San Antonio, Texas; or New Orleans, Louisiana, or smaller communities like Natchez, Mississippi; Virginia City, Nevada; Port Townsend, Washington; and Quincy, Illinois. Virtually every one of us has undoubtedly spent time pleasantly walking through historic Main Street and residential districts. The appeal of these areas is universal. Reflecting this, a growing number of communities have been incorporating historic preservation into their comprehensive plans, downtown revitalization strategies, and neighborhood improvement plans.

This article is intended to provide a brief introduction to historic preservation planning. You'll read about some of the benefits of preservation, and find information on how communities are implementing local preservation policies. Resources are also listed for those of you who want to learn more about preservation planning.

Preservation in America

The first interest in preserving historic structures can be found in the mid-19th Century efforts to acquire and restore the homes of famous Americans like George Washington's Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Beginning in 1927, the scope of historic preservation expanded dramatically with the start of John D. Rockefeller's restoration of Williamsburg, colonial Virginia's capital city. The next, and perhaps most important, step in the preservation movement was taken in 1931 when Charleston, South Carolina, established the nation's first local historic district. Preservation no longer concerned itself just with individual structures, but also took into account the historic value of groups of buildings, districts, and even whole communities.

As planning historian Larry Gerckens has noted, "The demolition of New York City's Pennsylvania Station in 1965, one of the nation's most magnificent railroad stations, shocked many New Yorkers, as well as citizens across the country. Outraged by the fact that there was no legal recourse to stop the demolition (the building was privately owned by the nearly bankrupt Pennsylvania Railroad), New Yorkers responded by enacting later that year a comprehensive landmarks preservation law." See "H is for Historic Preservation," in PCJ #46, Spring 2002.

Historic preservation became federal policy with the adoption of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in 1966. Sidebar: National Historic Preservation Act. This law was enacted following completion of With Heritage So Rich, a comprehensive report undertaken by the U.S. Conference of Mayor's Special Committee on Historic Preservation in response to the substantial loss of historic and cultural resources brought about by urban renewal and construction of the interstate highway system.

Among other things, the NHPA authorized creation of a National Register of Historic Places, directing the U.S. Secretary of Interior to maintain a list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture. Indeed, within twenty-five years of its passage there were over 8,000 historic districts listed in the National Register.

The NHPA also authorized the establishment of historic preservation offices in each state, and mandated the creation of standards and guidelines for various preservation activities, such as how to identify historic resources. The survey process and criteria for evaluating potential historic resources are important components of preservation planning because they help to distinguish what is historic from what is merely old. Sidebar, Identifying Historic Resources.

In recent years, historic preservation has continued to expand its focus, with new interest on preserving and enhancing the distinctive character of communities, and even regions.

Benefits of Historic Preservation

Since the 1970s, mounting evidence has shown that historic preservation can be a powerful community and economic development strategy. Evidence includes statistics compiled from annual surveys conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and statewide Main Street programs, state-level tourism and economic impact studies, and studies that have analyzed the impact of specific actions such as historic designation, tax credits, and revolving loan funds. Among the findings:

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