In the quest for density and infill, preservationists often stand beside those who want static cities. But both preservation and density can be ideologies, and thoughtful land use demands a nuanced middle ground.
In a piece for MinnPost, Claire VanderEyk writes, "It seems the only time we hear about preservationists is when they are fighting with someone and they're often depicted as 'not in my backyard' fanatics. [...] As a preservationist, I think of our viewpoint more on the side of advocating for thoughtful land use."
There are varying degrees of concern for preservation. Not all buildings are historic and worth saving, but some are. The key may be to focus on the character of neighborhoods, both as they exist now and what they could evolve into. "This will give way to a new type of preservation that is less about saving individual buildings and more about planning for a city's evolution that supports growth and change while preserving what makes it special."
According to VanderEyk, "preservationists have a right to be a part of these conversations. We're not a nuisance, an afterthought or a 'nice to have' part of city planning. Our voice matters and should not be discounted solely based on a misconceived idea of who we are as group."
FULL STORY: Why preservationists are an integral part of — not an obstacle to — good city planning
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