Historic Preservation and Urban Revitalization in the Twenty-first Century

Abstract

Historic preservation is largely an urban profession with strong ties to city planning and development. Advocates tout preservation as a key driver of urban revitalization, but there remains a dearth of empirical research that addresses this intersection. This article reviews the current state of affairs in preservation practice and scholarship and builds new connections with four leading discourses in urban revitalization: the New American City, place matters, anchor institutions, and legacy cities. We call for an expansive research agenda to address preservation’s role in revitalization and to rethink preservation policy in the twenty-first century.

Visual preference dimensions of historic urban areas: The determinants for urban heritage conservation

“…According to Yuen (2005) urban conservation produces civic pride and economic benefit as the uniqueness of cultural heritage increases urban capability of existing or performing in harmonious or congenial combination. Furthermore, Ryberg-Webster and Kinahan (2013) demonstrated the capability of heritage preservation "as an agent of urban change" and as a "facilitate[or for] community and economic development" (p. 119). Therefore, striking a balance between heritage conservation and urban development, targeting sustainability, is now the main challenge in growing cities (Stovel, 1999).…”

The Smart Growth Implications of the Los Angeles Adaptive Reuse Ordinance

“…216-217;Birch & Roby, 1984;Listokin, Listokin, & Lahr, 1998;Laurie, 2008). Furthermore, historic preservation offers intrinsic social benefits to communities because of the retention of local heritage (Yung & Chan, 2012, p. 355;Ryberg-Webster & Kinahan, 2013;Barthel-Bouchier, 2013;Bullen & Love, 2010, p. 216;Frey & Bowdon, 2012;Langston, 2008).…”

“…Ryberg-Webster and Kinahan (2013) offer an extensive literature review of historic preservation's role in urban revitalization, specifically describing how historic preservation can spur economic development and housing production. Scholars have suggested that historic preservation based-initiatives have achieved greater success in revitalization than urban renewal strategies that often involved raising old neighborhoods (Birch & Roby, 1984, pp.…”

“…Historic preservation has been documented as a contributor to local economic growth (Ryberg-Webster & Kinahan, 2013;Bullen & Love, 2010, pp. 216-217;Birch & Roby, 1984;Listokin, Listokin, & Lahr, 1998;Laurie, 2008).…”

“…79-80;Moe, 2008;Hasenfus, 2013). Building reuse has been considered an effective tool in supporting smart growth initiatives that lower the demand for suburban development, such as inner-city revitalization (Ryberg-Webster & Kinahan, 2013;Birch & Roby, 1984, pp. 199-204;Listokin, Listokin, & Lahr, 1998;Frey & Bowdon, 2012).…”