Community Concerns - Historic Rehabilitation
Once viewed as obstacles for the wholesale redevelopment of communities, even dilapidated historic buildings can become a district’s centerpiece. Some of the most economically challenged communities still have wonderfully grand old buildings at their cores. Even more modest buildings can provide a community (especially an economically depressed community) with an asset and economic foothold to better things.
But often historic buildings are difficult to rehabilitate due to significant costs. New buildings are custom designed to suit the functions placed within them. Old buildings, however, are what they are. They might have built-in limitations that are hurdles to redevelopment.
Communities that have strong urban plans and strategies for their overall redevelopment can offer backing for the redevelopment of historic buildings. From providing convenient parking to creating nearby public gathering spaces, communities can make the redevelopment of historic buildings more viable.