History / Preservation

Economic Argument for Historic Preservation in L.A.: Older Housing is Affordable Housing
Donovan Rypkema and Adrian Scott Fine highlight myth-busting findings on the impacts of historic preservation overlay zones (HPOZs) on affordability, density, diversity, and economic resilience of neighborhoods across Los Angeles.

Experiencing Hyperdensity in Old Delhi
A tourist visit through the oldest, densest part of Delhi, India, reveals the chaos and beauty of hyperdensity.

The Architectural Glory of Historic Warehouses
Chicago warehouses were once built with architectural flair, but today’s industrial structures don’t come close.

Anchorage Confronts History of Housing Discrimination
Urban growth in Anchorage was tied to restrictive covenants forbidding the sale of property to minorities.

Elevating Black Voices in the Planning Canon
The traditional narratives about the history of planning fail to note the role of Black urbanists, as well as the effect of planning policies on Black Americans.

Opinion: Historic Preservation's Climate Problem Reveals its Class Problem
A strongly worded opinion piece calls out historic preservation as a tool of the affluent urban elite.

The Urban Landscape New York City Lost in the 2010s
Over the last decade, many historic buildings and cultural institutions throughout New York City have disappeared. The result has been the transformation of neighborhoods and the city’s character.

On Progressive Impotence and an Obsolete Penn Station
In a deep dive into the sad state of the nation's busiest transit hub, Marc J. Dunkelman raises a dispiriting question. In their zeal to ward off future Robert Moseses, have progressives crippled government's power to carry out its job?

Another Record Year for Demolitions in 2019
The headline about Philadelphia demolitions looks pretty similar to one in 2018.

Retail Apocalypse Blazes New Trails
The demise of a beloved outdoors gear chain in Southern California suggests that no store is safe in America's high-priced cities.

Adaptive Reuse Contributes to Ambitious Development Momentum in Dallas' Deep Ellum
With a massive development project called The Epic already under construction as a future home for Uber, a Dallas developer is turning its attention to nearby sites.

Homeownership—American Dream or Nightmare?
Owning a home has long been considered the ultimate aspiration. But social and economic realities mean the stories about and the path to homeownership are not simple and straightforward.

Introducing the National Public Housing Museum
The planned National Public Housing Museum, expected to open in 2021, will draw attention to a highly contested subject and connect to the relevance provided by contemporary anxieties about housing.

When Architects Dress Like Buildings
The 1931 Beaux-Arts Ball immortalized the architects who participated by dressed like famous buildings. Will a 2019 version of the event achieve a contemporary version of the same fame?

What if the Greenest Building Isn't the One Already Standing?
Renovating old buildings instead of demolishing them as the better "green" option is preservation orthodoxy. But what if the decision between renovation and demolition is less than clear-cut?

New Historic Preservation Fund for Residents Proposed in Philadelphia
Defraying the costs of maintaining a historic home can help more families stay in their homes, according to the logic behind a preservation fund proposed in one of the most historic cities in the country.

New Life for the Longaberger Basket as a Luxury Hotel
A completely singular example of adaptive reuse could be delivered a gift basket in Newark, Ohio.

Gentrification Up Close in N.Y.C.'s West Village
A former resident of the iconic neighborhood reflects on its past, present, and future.

Condo Development Starts Construction in Philadelphia's Historic Jewelers Row
The traditional view of Sansom Street will soon vanish into Philadelphia's past, as the Jewelers Row District makes room for the future.

Controversial Decision Limits Solar Panels on Historic Homes in D.C.
"I realize that we are in crisis politically as well as sustainably. But…"
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