PLAN-110: Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning

As cities around the world expand and more people move back into older downtowns and inner-ring suburbs, historic preservation serves two important purposes, encouraging a sustained sense of history and culture in the community, while formalizing practical standards for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, or reconstruction of historic properties for adaptive use by a new generation.

Planetizen's Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning course provides professionals and concerned citizens alike with a self-paced introduction to the basic knowledge and action framework they need to develop historic preservation programs - from historic resource surveys, to individual property nominations, to cultural resources elements of general plans – in their communities. In addition to guiding students through the practical side of preservation planning, including local, state, and federal preservation incentives and a variety of treatment plans at the local level, course instructor Hector Abreu Cintron outlines the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and the history of historic preservation, including pertinent legislation in the United States.

• Course Instructor
• Course Outline
• Student Testimonials
• Course Overview
• AICP Certification Maintenance
• Returning Student Discount
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Course Instructor

Hector Abreu Cintron is the founding principal of the cultural resources management firm Historic Preservation Services, Inc. He recently served as the General Services Administration (GSA) Liaison for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent Federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of America's historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. He has been involved in major federal, state and local preservation projects that have contributed to community redevelopment, heritage tourism and tribal concerns. He has worked with all aspects of preservation legislation, including Sections 106, 110 and 111 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and all Executive Orders as they pertain to historic preservation and planning.

Mr. Abreu-Cintron has taught preservation courses at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Historic Preservation, as well as at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) during his tenure as Chair of the Historic Preservation Department and Professor. Courses he taught included Introduction to Historic Preservation, Preservation Planning and Research, and Conservation Science. He was the Administrator for the Conservation Laboratory at SCAD and co-author of the conservation study for the Ohio Statehouse Masonry Conservation study at the University of Pennsylvania. For his efforts, Mr. Abreu-Cintron was included in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers list twice. Mr. Abreu-Cintron has a Bachelors in Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Masters in Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Historic Preservation.

Student Testimonials

"Worth taking, even if you consider yourself 'experienced' in preservation planning."
--Amy Augustine, AICP - Augustine Planning Associates, Inc.

Course Outline

Topic 1: The Language of Preservation

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Secretary of the Interior's Standards
• Lesson 3: Preservation
• Lesson 4: Restoration
• Lesson 5: Reconstruction
• Lesson 6: Rehabilitation
• Topic 1 Quiz

Topic 2: The History of Historic Preservation

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Ancient Preservation Theories
• Lesson 3: Renaissance Theories
• Lesson 4: Modern Theories
• Lesson 5: Preservation Movement in the United States
• Lesson 6: Preservation in the 20th Century
• Topic 2 Quiz

Topic 3: Historic Districts

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: In the beginning there was Charleston
• Lesson 3: Colonial Williamsburg Factor
• Lesson 4: Reasons to Establish a Historic District
• Lesson 5: How to Establish a Historic District
• Topic 3 Quiz

Topic 4: Preservation Legislation

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Early Preservation Legislation
• Lesson 3: Preservation Legislation (1930-1955)
• Lesson 4: Preservation Legislation Matures (1956-1970)
• Lesson 5: Preservation Legislation and the Environmental Movement (1970-1980)
• Lesson 6: Preservation Legislation (1980- Present)
• Lesson 7: Local Preservation Legislation
• Lesson 8: State Preservation Legislation
• Lesson 9: Federal Preservation Legislation
• Topic 4 Quiz

Topic 5: Preservation Planning

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Preservation Planning Theory
• Lesson 3: Components of a Preservation Plan
• Lesson 4: Statement of Goals
• Lesson 5: Identification
• Lesson 6: Evaluation
• Lesson 7: Registration
• Lesson 8: Treatment
• Topic 5 Quiz

Topic 6: Identification

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: American Architectural Traditions
• Lesson 3: Colonial (1600-1820)
• Lesson 4: Romantic (1820-1880)
• Lesson 5: Victorian (1880-1900)
• Lesson 6: Eclectic (1880-Present)
• Lesson 7: Defining Historic Character and Context
• Lesson 8: Conducting Historic Resource Surveys
• Lesson 9: Identifying Archaeological Resources
• Lesson 10: Identifying Landscape Resources
• Topic 6 Quiz

Topic 7: Evaluation

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Coordinating Preservation with Zoning, Land Use and Growth Management
• Lesson 3: Defining Public Sector Response
• Lesson 4: Role of Education
• Topic 7 Quiz

Topic 8: Registration

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: The National Register Program
• Lesson 3: The Nomination Process
• Lesson 4: Steps to a Successful Nomination - Part One
• Lesson 5: Steps to a Successful Nomination - Part Two
• Topic 8 Quiz

Topic 9: Treatment

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Easements/Land Trusts
• Lesson 3: Zoning Issues
• Lesson 4: Building Codes
• Lesson 5: Design and Preservation Guidelines and Standards
• Lesson 6: Preservation/Cultural Resource Elements of General Plans
• Topic 9 Quiz

Topic 10: Local and State Preservation Incentives

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Sources of Funding for Preservation
• Lesson 3: Preservation Ordinances
• Lesson 4: Façade Easements
• Lesson 5: Establishing a Historic Preservation Commission
• Lesson 6: Conservation Districts vs. Historic Districts
• Lesson 7: Certifications of Appropriateness
• Topic 10 Quiz

Topic 11: Federal Preservation Incentives

• Lesson 1: Introduction
• Lesson 2: Section 106 of the NHPA
• Lesson 3: Extending the Federal Legacy: Executive Orders 11593 and 13006
• Lesson 4: Preserve America: Executive Order 13287
• Lesson 5: Federal Land Management Agencies
• Lesson 6: Federal Assistance Agencies
• Lesson 7: The Role of Tax Credits
• Lesson 8: The Vital Role of Heritage Tourism
• Topic 11 Quiz

End of Course Test

Course Overview

Preservation planning is defined as the process by which an applicant organizes preservation activities (identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment of historic properties) into a logical sequence. Preservation planning can occur with resources at many levels, such as with an individual project, an entire local community, the whole of a state, or the vast holdings of the Federal government. Depending on the scale, the planning process will involve different segments of the public and professional communities and the resulting plans will vary in detail. For example, a state preservation plan will likely have more general recommendations than a plan for a project area or a local community.

Preservation planning is instrumental in formalizing public policies and strategies that can prevent the loss of historic resources. It provides a forum for community discussion and education about issues related to historic resources and development. Important questions such as when and where it may be appropriate to demolish historic buildings, and what resources must be protected to maintain the community's unique historic and architectural character can be more effectively answered.

The evolution of the field of historic preservation and related developments in allied fields (i.e. architecture, urban planning, and archeology) have required that preservation professionals address a multiplicity of issues in the identification, evaluation, and protection of cultural resources. There is ever growing attention, not just to individual cultural artifacts, but also to the increasing number of urban and rural historic districts in the United States. The protection of our cultural heritage now spans a range of fields and preservation issues have now become embedded into the practice of the professional planner and environmental designer. Continuing education helps train architectural and planning professionals to respond to the growing awareness of cultural resources by bringing informed professional judgment to the particular problems presented by historic properties.

This course is a comprehensive introduction to the field of preservation planning, and examines the constitutional underpinnings of landmarks regulation and the emergence of historic preservation as a discipline analogous to urban planning. Also addressed are the issues of applying preservation planning tools, including local individual and historic district designations, building typology, National Register nominations, special zoning and conservation districts, easements, and restrictive covenants. Financial incentives for rehabilitation, including investment tax credits, property tax incentives, and revolving loan funds, are examined. Current issues in preservation planning including combating sprawl and preserving rural landscapes will also be addressed.

By the end of this course, students should be able to identify those issues within the preservation field which impact community planning. They should have a better appreciation of the history of the historic preservation field and its foundation. They should understand influential preservation theories and how they guide the profession. Finally, students will learn about the application of historic preservation models to various community planning scenarios and their consequences. The successful incorporation of planning and preservation is well-founded and desirable in our rapidly developing world, for only by studying and preserving the past can we have the necessary tools to better prepare and plan for our future.

AICP Certification Maintenance

This course has been approved to provide 4 credits for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification Maintenance program.

To claim your CM credits, review the Guide to Claiming AICP CM Credits for Planetizen Courses.

Returning Student Discount

Returning Planetizen Courses students can also take advantage of a 15% discount off the price of another Planetizen Course (PLAN-145, PLAN-310, PLAN-315, and all webinars exempted). To receive this discount, contact us at info@planetizen.com.

Purchasing Information

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