What is the definition of a historic building?
Any building or structure that is listed or eligible for listing in the State or National Register of Historic Places; is designated as a historic property under local or state law or survey; is certified as a contributing resource to a State or National Register Historic District.How do building codes apply to historic buildings and their renovation?
Access, building, and safety codes generally include special provisions for historic properties, but building officials are often unaware of these considerations. Code provisions often allow for alternative compliance methods to allow the retention of as much historic fabric as possible. This is an area that causes a lot of confusion and misconceptions for individuals and groups considering the renovation of a historic structure - especially for public or municipal use. As a result, a significant number of potential rehabilitations never go forward.Why preserve?
Daniel Bluestone (University of Chicago) articulates it thus:
Buildings can be seen not only as reservoirs of memory but as reservoirs of embodied energy; the most sustainable thing to do with our stock of existing buildings and landscapes is to buttress plans for continuing their use. In an age that now religiously re-cycles aluminum cans and is beginning to confront the limits of our natural resources it is incumbent upon us to strive to conserve the resources and energies that are embodied in the built environment. Finding creative approaches to using and re-using existing places is one means of doing just that. See also Economics, Sustainability and Historic Preservation (PDF) for more insight into this question.What is the National Register?
It's the nation's official list of sites and structures determined worthy of preservation for their significance as local, state or national cultural resources. Eligible properties range from national monuments to village stores.Does listing of a property on the National Register restrict its use or future changes?
Listing does not restrict private property owner rights. It can actually provide economic opportunities in terms of tax benefits or funding considerations in many cases. In addition, listing provides protection from public encroachment and provides for a review process designed to prevent destruction or damage of historic resources by public agencies.