Preservation Is The Key To Urban Revitalization

How historic preservation, including tax credit benefits, is working in Detroit to spark urban revitalization.

1 minute read

October 17, 2003, 1:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"Over the past five years, new financing tools have sparked a wave of historic renovation work nationwide, including the $146.8 million restoration of the vacant Book-Cadillac Hotel in downtown Detroit into a 470-room hotel and 70 apartments.Through the use of tax credits for historic properties, which allow developers to sell a portion of the development costs of a renovation project to investors, more vacant buildings across the country are being spared from the wrecking ball."

Thanks to Richard Layman

Thursday, October 16, 2003 in The Detroit News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Two people walking away from camera through pedestrian plaza in street in Richmond, Virginia with purple and white city bus moving in background.

Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA

The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.

June 17, 2025 - WRIC

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16, 2025 - Governing

For Rent sign on red stucco apartment building.

A Case for Universal Rental Assistance

A pair of researchers argues that expanding rental assistance programs for low-income households is the most effective way to alleviate the housing crisis.

12 minutes ago - The Conversation

Looking up at high-rise office buildings in New York City.

Office Conversions Have Increased Every Year This Decade

Since the pandemic, office vacancy rates remain high, leading many cities to adjust zoning codes to accommodate adaptive reuse.

6 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Man walking down city sidewalk with sweat on back of his t-shirt on hot day.

Index Measures Impact of Heat on Pedestrian Activity

When heat and humidity are high, people are more likely to opt for cars when possible.

7 hours ago - Streetsblog Mass

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.