Reconstruction & Renovation

Historic preservation good for economy, job creation, studies say

Economic studies in recent years add fodder to the argument for historic preservation. In the past five years, there has been “a lot of substantive research in this area,” says Don Rypkema, principal with PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development firm. Studies have identified four major economic impacts of preservation: • Creation of jobs and household income • Increases to property values • Revitalization of the “Main Street community” • Development of heritage tourism
May 25, 2011
Economic studies in recent years add fodder to the argument for historic preservation. In the past five years, there has been “a lot of substantive research in this area,” says Don Rypkema, principal with PlaceEconomics, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate and economic development firm. Studies have identified four major economic impacts of preservation: • Creation of jobs and household income • Increases to property values • Revitalization of the “Main Street community” • Development of heritage tourism A study in Delaware showed that rehabilitation of old buildings created 14.6 jobs per $1 million of output, as compared to 11.2 jobs created by new construction, and 9.2 jobs created in manufacturing for the same level of output. Creation of local historic districts not only adds value to historic homes, but to other properties near those homes, Rypkema points out. In Philadelphia, it represented a sales price premium of 131 percent; in nine Texas cities, increased property values ranged from 5 percent to 20 percent. (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700135814/Saving-old-buildings-creates-more-jobs-than-new-construction-saves-energy-says-PlaceEconomics-Don.html)

About the Author

Drew Ballensky

Drew Ballensky is general manager of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.’s central U.S. facility in Iowa and company spokesman for Duro-Last’s cool roofing, sustainability and architectural education programs. He is past-president of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association and chairman of CFFA’s Vinyl Roofing Division. Drew earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from the University of Northern Iowa and master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University. Drew has over 29 years experience in business and industry in various engineering and managerial capacities. He has worked in the U.S. and Canadian operations for a major international manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings, was a financial analyst with a major athletic apparel manufacturer and was an owner of a general contracting company.
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