CAS AH 546 Historic Preservation Theory Midterm

What role should and does historic preservation play in American society?

Historic preservation should allow for continuinty, memory, and identity; it should keep the American spirit alive, the spirit of our forebearers, should retain important historical data and dialogues both in story and in physical mass.

Historic preservation actively plays the role of keeping American history alive, and it diversifies our environments with landmarks and districts belonging to times of the past.

Manifest Destiny

Manifest destiny is the belief in America's divine expansion from east to west. It is related to the 19th century, specifically with reference to wiping out Native American populations and the California goldrush.

Problems with term historic preservation?

term is unique to the US; somewhat implies or associated with an elite few who are are able to and have the time to do something about a historically relevant thing. “Heritage conservation” = term used in UK, applied to structures and landscapes alike.

Term has become institutionalized in the US (National Trust for HP)

Private sector's role in history of historic preservation?

largely responsible for the beginnings of Historic Preservation; people like APC and small grass-roots organizations led the first acts of US preservation.

Independence Hall

Example of private initiated act of preservation.

1816, one of the first preservation acts. Philadelphia city hall building (The Old State House) with lots of significance, saved by a French man Marquis de Lafayette saw state of disrepair in 1824. 1852 onward July 4th celebrated in the building. Renamed to Independence Hall and placed in new Independence Square with restoration project.

Mount Vernon

Residence of George Washington, served as basis for the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, established in 1853 by Ann Pamela Cunningham first US preservation group.

Ann Pamela Cunningham

Major figure in American historic preservation history; spearheaded the movement itself and formed the very first historic preservation association called the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, headquartered at Mount Vernon, George Washington's historical residence. It was saved due to her primary preservation activism.

Mount Vernon Ladies Association

First preservation group founded in the US by APC at Mount Vernon, George Washington's former residence in 1853.

Concept of "nouns vs. verbs"

Buildings can be seen through the lens of historic preservation as nouns or verbs;

Nouns - representing the thing that they are; "mass-production" at a historic mill, "action" at a government house, "strategy" at a pivotal military base.

Verbs - representing the societal or cultural action that they promote, permit, or perpetuate; "to fight" as seen in a historic town hall, "to create" as seen in a in a long-lasting design school, "to gather" as seen in a historic church.

Seeing a building as a noun or a verb, looking in at their meaning and use, adds layers to their significance and allows us to really understand the historic importance of a structure.

Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc

Early preservationist; not necessarily an architect, more of a spirited aficionado for history and buildings. He led the 19th century preservation project on Notre Dame de Paris, adding the famed gargoyles and chimera which are so famous today.

His philosophy is debated for and against to this day. He was in favor of restoring buildings to their fullest potential, "AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN" somewhat regardless of history—insert gargoyles. While their newfound abundance was NOT historically accurate, his inclusion of them spoke to the general heart and fervor of medieval architecture, and now they are one of the most quickly identified aspects of the church.

rebuttal to his philosophy; "a monument to be a testamony to the past must stay as the past has bequeathed it. To pretend to restore it to its original state is dangerous and deceitful" - Paul Leon

La Madeleine de Vezelay, Vezelay, France

First preservation project undertaken by Viollet le Duc; included new stone to compliment the old but also introduced new statuary work which he saw fitting for the structure. Classic le Duc...

Santa Barbara courthouse

Restored after a large earthquake in 1925; rebuild entire downtown from scratch.

New design philosophy was adopted; design better than before, and with a single unanimous design aesthetic; Spanish Mission. Gives SB a completely unified architectural distinction.

This restoration was heavily guided by the principles of Viollet le Duc: restore to greater potential.

John Ruskin

Opposition to Viollet le Duc. Ruskin was a famous art and architecture critic / literature guy. His philosophy; buildings should not be restored, remain untouched. It is as impossible to restore a building that once was great as it is to raise the dead. Buildings need to be built to last forever.

Bay Furnace, Michigan

Former blast furnace for smelting iron on Lake Superior, 1870-77, but fire took down entire structure but left masonry furnace itself. Years went by before the NPS "preserved" the relic; did not restore it to any glory, only removed overgrowth. Now serves as testament to history of architecture and engineering and manufacturing with no added furls or intentional amplification of glory.

How do the following examples reflect historic preservation principles and philosophies? (Textbook Chapter 2: Preservation Philosophies)

Parthenon and Elgin Marbles

Lord Elgin committed an act of preservation ROBBERY when he was given permission to take the marbles from the Parthenon's pediment to Britain. This was during the archaeological excavation of the site in 1801 and he was granted permission by the Ottomans. He then auctioned them to the British Museum.

Greece, upon their independence, set a goal to return the marbles to the parthenon to be reunited with their home. However, British Museum says they're well cared for there and now belong at the British Museum.

This is a much larger debate about the ethics of the museum agency and about historic preservation; when artefacts are conserved and restored, what become of their boundaries? Do pieces of history deserve to remain forever in their rightful places of origin or should they travel the world to promote curiosity in other cultures and fuel the tourism industry?

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

This is an example of the GEOGRAPHIC place being the primary reason for historical significance, not the cultural ties or conflicts it is related to.

Settled for 5,000 years, canyon site in NE Arizona.

Cliff dwellings built by Pueblo Indians 350-1300 AD; 1700 Navajo Indians occupied; 1931 designated national monument and protected from looters.

Navajo lived there until 1863 when Colonel Kit Carson forcibly exiled 8,000 on the "Long Walk" to New Mexico reservation site. Now owned by Navajo Tribal Trust.

Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina

This is an example of a preserved building not being "restored:" alternately, they chose to preserve it in its aged state, to communicate its actual historic image.

Donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1974 by Drayton family, historic family mansion.

Historic Georgian-Palladian plantation mansion, woodwork and surfaces showed wear and age, decor disappeared in time. Showed important realities of construction methods and materials. Photorealistic images created using Computer Generated data; every inch measured; 3D reconstruction allows digital visitation.

Strawbery Hill, Twickenham, London

Horace Walpole, first Gothic residence really ever built; romanticized the style. 1747.

Fell into disrepair by the 2000s. Full restoration 2004, restored exactly to 1790 at the time of Walpole's death (owner and creator of house). This restoration highlights the principle of being true to history and caring for the details - even the bell system was recreated to fully deliver the performance.

Williamsburg, Virginia

First fully restored area in America; restoration to 18th century glory funded by JD Rockefeller instituted by W.A.R. Goodwin. Developed 10 principles, "the Decalogue," of restoration. Colonial bldgs saved; classical bldgs removed with discretion; rest destroyed. All was to be preserved, not restored, unless otherwise necessary.

Museum-like quality to the village now, where historical reenactments occur daily and the village population dresses and acts as if they are from the time of the 18th century. They kept everything in tip-top shape and it was perfectly restored to the 18th century setting.

John D. Rockefeller

Donated $70 million to the Williamsburg project.

Problems with Williamsburg?

Living museum; vision of the past; very strict rulebook which guided the restoration; they did not lean into the "aged" look, rather a perfected version of the past. Now, they allow buildings to age and weather—THIS is probably historically more accurate. Patinas develop, this is okay.

History of the Preservation Movement (Textbook Chapter 3)

Private vs. public

18th-19th century time - preservation started as "antiquarianism:" respect for past and therefore translated into acts to help preserve it.

Now in the 20th century it became split primarily in two groups:

private-led activity (centered around historical figures, landmarks, structures)

government involvement (public): preserving natural features, establishing national parks.

These paths merged in 1949 at the creation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and allowed for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Independence Hall

Example of private initiated act of preservation.

1816, one of the first preservation acts. Philadelphia city hall building (The Old State House) with lots of significance, saved by a French man Marquis de Lafayette saw state of disrepair in 1824. 1852 onward July 4th celebrated in the building. Renamed to Independence Hall and placed in new Independence Square with restoration project.

Role of the Federal government in early preservation efforts

they had really no interest in early preservation efforts; mainly these acts were started by private individuals and among them primarily women. They did not care about buildings. They cared about parks.

Yellowstone National Park

1872. With the government's focus being on the preservation of parks as opposed to buildings, their efforts started with Yellowstone National Park, the nations first national park. Massive land area saved for public use.

Casa Grande

1889 - Nation's first National Monument - just following Yellowstone's creation, nearby in the Southwest the govt became interested in preserving adobe dwellings from the 14th century. 1889 Congress designated Casa Grande as nation's first national monument. $2,000 to protect it.

Mesa Verde

1906 - At the time of the establishment of Casa Grande in 1889, two cowboys found the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. It had been scavenged and robbed from 1889 to 1906 by people on the east coast who had heard of the site. Congress established it a National Park in 1906 to preserve the dwellings.

Adirondack Park

In 1892, "forever kept as wild forest land", largest state park in the United States forbidding any deforestation or lumbering or any other harmful use. Set precedent for the 1964 National Wilderness Act.

Antiquities Act of 1906

Teddy Roosevelt: prevent removal/destruction of federally owned sites. Nation's first historic preservation act. Gave president authority to designate historic landmarks, structures, and objects on federal lands. Promoted surveying and preservation in whole. Federally nominated properties are "national monuments."

National Park Service

1916 established NPS in Department of the Interior.

Establish governance over lands too large for private protection or preservation.

Has progressed much since its inception; now works with state and local govts, nonprofits, tribes, etc.

90,000 sites in the National Register of Historic Places, 2,500 National Historic Landmarks, 37 National Heritage Areas.

NPS organizes HABS, Historic American Buildings Survey; from this there is HAER (Historic American Engineering Record) and HALS (Historic American Landscape Survey)

New Deal Programs

FDR's plan to help the US during the great depression.

1933 Great Depression - created Civil Works Administration, and thus the Public Works of Art Project. Provided jobs for unemployed artists to decorate public buildings and parks that had no money in their construction budget for art. Lasted until 1943, WW2 changed economic priorities.

Also HABS was created 1933.

HABS

Historic American Buildings Survey

1933, public record of building arts in America, established by the NPS, Lib of Congress, and AIA with the purpose to study, measure, draw plans, elevations, details of important antique bldgs.

HAER

Partner program to HABS; 1969, whereas HABS focused on endangered historic bldgs, HAER records technology and engineering involved in canals, railroads, bridges, and industrial/manufacturing sites

HALS

2000: Third chapter to HABS and HAER.

HALS (Historic American Landscape Survey) adds larger dimension of landscape to the measured drawings and written histories and photographs.

All three, HABS HAER HALS, are under the NPS's Heritage Documentation Programs.

CRGIS

1989; cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems, data system used for global positioning. Record data about sites in a noninvasive manner.

Historic Sites Act

1935 - National policy to preserve historic sites, bldgs, objects of national significance for public benefit. Given to the National Park Service

With Heritage So Rich

Published 1966, This is a seminal book in historic preservation, published by National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Photography of American architectural heritage, showed lost architecture. Illustrated need for preservation, envisioned greater role of it in the federal govt. Actually paved the way for the National Historic Preservation Act 1966.

National Historic Preservation Act 1966

Established National Register of Historic Places; encouraged local historic districts; mandated qualified SHPOs; established Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Paved the way for much of American historic preservation. Little had really been done until then. Historic preservation now became a more integral value of America, in govt and in its people.

National Register of Historic Places

Most comprehensive list of the nation's recognized historic structures, 93,000+ structures, organized by NPS.

National Register: What does it do?

Does the following:

Identify, encourage, determine, list, allow, incentivize.

Identify historically significant bldgs, structures, sites, objects, and districts (thru their own list of qualifications)

Encourage preservation of hsitoric properties by documentation/lending support to local preservation activities

Enable federal, state, local agencies to consider historic properties in early stages of planning projects

Provide list identifying historic sites that might be affected by new development by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Provide for review of federally funded, licensed, or sponsored projects that may affect historic properties

Make owners of historic properties eligible to apply for federal grants-in-aid for preservation activity

Encourage rehab of income-producing historic properties that meet preservation standards thru tax incentives; discourage demolition of these thru tax decentives.

National Register: What doesn't it do?

Doesn't:

Restrict, designate, stop, guarantee, provide.

Restrict rights, instantly designate, stop sites, guarantee funding, provide tax benefits.

Restrict rights of private property owners in use, development, demolition, or sale of privately owned historic property (this is controlled in part by ordinances)

Lead automatically to local historic district or landmark designation

Stop federal, state, local, or private projects on site

Provide for review of state, local, or private funded projects that may affect historic properties

Guarantee that grant funds will be available for all historic properties

Provide federal tax benefits to owners of residential historic properties unless those properties are treated as income producting by IRS

State Historic Preservation Offices

Appointed official State Historic Preservation Officer by governor of each state and territory; chief administrator of preservation programs

Duties:

conducting systematic surveys (in conjunction with other agencies and the public)

send approved nominations to National Register or NPS

administer grants at local level

provide Section 106 Review consultation

review federal investment tax credits and makes recommendations to NPS

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Established 1966, appointed by president under executive branch, advised president and Congress on historic preservation policy. Reviews activities and properties listed/eligible for the National Register. Provides a check against unwarranted demolition of historic resources.

Section 106 review

Section 106 review is the main process of the advisory council; review/commenting on federal projects that impact historic properties listed/eligible for National Register. "Stop, look, and listen"

Section 106 review: What are the four steps in Section 106 review?

Step 1: IDENTIFY historic properties

a. identify if there are historic properties on or eligible for the National Register

b. if found, consult with public or SHPO or other parties on project basis

Step 2: ASSESS effects (using criteria for Advisory Council regulations)

a. MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) developed

b. get agreement of SHPO, public, and/or any involved party

Step 3: CONSULTATION (identify ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects

Step 4: PROCEED

This process ensures fair pursual of projects.

Berman v. Parker

1954 historic preservation guided by "Aesthetics plus" - a preservation project can only be greenlit if there is more than just simply aesthetics alone guiding the project.

Berman v Parker case: aesthetics was sufficient alone for a preservation project. Decided by US Supreme Court 1954.

Goes both ways: buildings can be removed for "blight" or buildings can be saved for aesthetics alone. Can only be used for broad efforts of community planning.

Figarsky v. Historic District Commission

1976

• The Historic District Commission in Norwich, Connecticut denies an owner a

permit to demolish a building that had been cited by the city as unsafe

• It was a part of the historic district, but was vacant, had little significance, had been altered, etc

• The commission denied the demolition permit because its existence was key to preserving the character of the area by blocking the view of the commercial area

• Figarsky wanted compensation from the city to make the repairs to his building if they were not going to allow him to demolish it - accusing the commission of using "vague aesthetic legislation" and abused its power

• CT Supreme Courts rules in favor of the Commission saying that the denial of the permit was neither an abuse or a confiscation

Penn Central Decision

1978; first US Supreme Court decision directly dealing with historic preservation. Debate: right of an owner to develop vs. right of a CITY to review development of a designated historic property.

Penn Central, the company owning Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, proposed a 55 story skyscraper atop Penn Station. Denied by NYC because of historic and utilitarian value of the Penn Station building. Penn Central asked for reconsideration and compensation.

The criticism was that ordinance law was limiting Penn Central's ability to expand; they are "unlucky" to have to bear the burden of community interest, that being the preservation of their landmark, at the cost of expansion for a different type of community interest. See the problem?

Issue of "taking," which requires "just compensation" - there was deemed no "taking" because basically they have enough money and ability to thrive as a company. They failed to show that they were not making ends meet; they failed to show that they were not makign "reasonable return" from the station itself, and were thus not granted the approval of expansion.

Questions: how far can cities go in limiting historic property expansions?

St. Bartholomew's Case

Question: should religious bldgs be exempt from historic preservation ordinances?

Beautiful gothic church in Manhattan; designated historic landmark in 1967.

Proposal from the church: replace adjacent community house with a highrise. Profits would allow for maintenance of aged church and could finance community outreach.

Proposal denied: highrise too tall. But how can they continue to preserve the church without funding?

The statement granting historic designation allowed for CHANGES to be made... the city however went back on this promise by denying their proposal.

The city simply denied the 59 story tower because it was too tall. But then they denied a smaller and a smaller tower, so three times total.

This decision limits the basic right for churches abilities to exercise their beliefs and activities by limiting their capacity to make money.

"Taking" not issued because the church is charitable and relies anyway on the public interest.

Takeaway; religious affiliations are subject to historic ordinances, and that is not a violation of the first amendment separation of church and state.

Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois

1970; church eagerly accepted National Historic Landmark designation. Voluntarily accepted this because they wanted to see the building remain preserved thru time. Designation also included the interior preserved. Also ensured easement—meaning the Preservation Council of Illinois yearly checks interior and exterior to ensure preservation. Also ensured that donor money went straight to its preservation, not possibly to the church's general budget - this increased their earnings. Very positive historic preservation case, made lots of money, very well preserved.

Historic Significance

Term given to a valued building with regard to historical/cultural significance or architectural value.

Significance = BIG BUZZWORD in historic preservation.

Historic Significance: Exclusions?

Deemed by the National Park Service as not fitting National Register qualifications.

These have nothing to do with a person's historical importance or only represent a person/event indirectly (unless otherwise noted), and for religious bldgs, it is not necessarily NR qualified unless architecturally very significant.

Cemeteries

Birthplaces

Statues

Commemorative structures

Religious structures

Any bldgs which have been moved from their original sites

Reconstructed bldgs

Bldgs less than 50 years old

National Register Criteria for Evaluation

The estimate of a property's potential significance should be based on this guideline of four main criteria. A historic site may be elected for any or all of the four criteria to be considered significant and to be listed in the National Register.

National Register Criteria for Evaluation: A, B, C, D

A: building associated with historic EVENTS relating to American history

B: building associated with historic PEOPLE relating to American history

C: building associated with historic ARCHITECTURAL style, details, or construction methods

D: building site may contain important area or material or objects relevant to American history or prehistory, aka ARCHAEOLOGICAL value

Integrity

Slightly nuanced terminology; similar to "significance," but implies different and more specific axes of judgment on which to deem a property truly significant.

Basic question to rule integrity: How well does the property represent the period or theme for which it is being recognized?

Integrity: Location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association

A building's integrity are judged on these qualities:

Location: the place where the historic property was constructed or where a historic event occurred

design: the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of the property

setting: the physical environment of a historic property

materials: the physical elements that were combined during a particular period of time in a particular pattern/configuration to form a historic property

workmanship: the physical evidence of crafts or a particular culture or people during any given time

feeling: a property's expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time

association: the direct link between an important historic event/person and a historic property

What is a historic district? (Textbook chapter 6)

A section of a community containing bldgs, properties, or sites that have been designated historically or architecturally significant. Can be a few or can be hundreds of individual properties.

Designated by NPS in the Department of the Interior. Imposes no regulation on property owner rights.

Why do communities establish historic districts?

It identifies the historic significance of an area visually and it keeps the areas intact. Can be employed as a means of avoiding future or imposing development, or for tax incentives and property value stabilization.

(sub-chapter titles) protect resources within area; protect resources against threats of development; incentivize redevelopment; stabilize or increase property values; enhance public relations and social value

Charleston, South Carolina

Nation's first Historic District, 1931 established and 1944 approved, as emphasized by Frederick Law Olmsted decades earlier. Deemed significant for its relation to English settlers and colonial America.

Backed by community support even though it lacked any governmental input. Created an ordinance that exterior modifications need to be surveyed and approved.

Vieux Carré

Nation's second Historic District, 1936 established, demarcating New Orlean's "Old Quarter," aka the French Quarter, with architecture dating back to 1721. Wrought-iron balconies and walled courtyards and nightlife.

What is a historic district?

A historic district is an area containing bldgs, properties or sites that have historical or architectural significance. The term is unique to the US. The federal govt designates them in the Dept of the Interior thru the NPS.

Why were the following historic districts formed? Be prepared to explain their relationship to different motivations behind the creation of historic districts:

Savannah, Georgia

Reason: Protection of resources within historic district boundaries. Protection granted by firm review of proposals within the boundaries.

Savannah is a historic district on a CITY SCALE.

Grid system with public squares and even street rows from 1733; preserved to keep this historic value and setup.

Alamo Plaza, San Antonio

Reason: Protection of resources within historic district boundaries.

The Alamo, most historic site in Texas, 2,000 year history of Native Americans. Alamo established as a Mission in 1724, later garrisonned, later used as fortress, later trade terminus of Civil War, later city expansion around it created the Alamo Plaza Historic District.

German Village, Ohio

Reason: Protection of resources within historic district boundaries.

German immigrants mid 19th century, southside of downtown Columbus, went into decline with anti-German sentiment in the US during the world wars and prohibition contributed to this. Historic architecture and defence of the community - lobbied supporters to protect the district, large residential area designated historic place in 1974. the German Village Society now has more than 1,000 members dedicated to this preservation project.

Pioneer Square, Seattle

Reason: Protect historic resources against specific threats of development.

Pioneer Square - original Skid Row, for skidding logs into the water edge for port construction - had become rundown area for the transients. New meaning for skid row.

1963 plan to revitalize. Plan for knocking down deteriorated bldgs, however, community wanted to save the neighborhood for its architecture and history. Designated historic district to save against destruction, but also entrepreneurs came in and revitalized old bldgs into spacious apartments. Urban mixed use bldgs.

Lower downtown, Denver

Reason: Protect historic resources against specific threats of development.

last remaining commercial area of downtown Denver; demolition planned; saved 1973 for historic value; contributes to tourism and shopping scene of Denver.

Station Square, Pittsburgh

Reason: incentivize redevelopment

Enormous redevelopment project involving unused station building; turned into market center with shops and food using the historic theme and marvelous interiors. Massive success even in the face of suspicion and doubt - grossed $3 mill first year. Historic landmark foundation and Arthur Ziegler led this project.

Lowell, Massachusetts

Reason: Enhance public relations and social value

mid/late 19th century Lowell = center of New England textile business. Then center moved to southern states in the 20s and Lowell fell off. Vacant mills in city center turned into preservation district under National Historic Parks district of NPS.

highlights how preservation can cause revitalization of an area - mills restored into residences and shops etc.

What is a historic district commission and how do you set it up?

A historic district commission is a group that reviews and approves changes to exterior bldg details based on aesthetic judgment (Berman v Parker).

They review changes to existing bldgs and proposals for new ones with regard to a historic district.

They are established at the local level as justfified by a certain goal: preserving history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, culture, stablizing property values, strengthen community and economy, education, pleasure, civic beauty, etc.

Establishment: local governing body (city council, township board, county commission) appoints a study committee to photograph historic district, tally number of properties, and then file a report on the definite boundaries, history of the district, and established significance for the site. Public hearing, then recommendations, then approval.

How does nomination to the National Register work?

To list properties in the Register, committee should follow criteria for evaluation issued by the Secretary of the Interior as approved by the SHPO.

What is excluded from the National Register?

What happens when you set up boundaries?

The boundaries of a historic district deem what is included and what is excluded from the proposed area of architectural conservation. When you set up the boundaries, you must carefully calculate which properties contribute to the significance of the overall area, excluding properties or areas which do not contribute. Boundaries may be as simple as a waterfront edge or a geographic change or as complex as a careful division in historic architectural styles.

What is the rationale behind the creation of a historic district ordinance?