In midst
of the recession, the federal government has enacted the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, passed in February, which allots $787 billion for economic
stimulus programs to create or save jobs nationwide. While none of the stimulus
money is directly targeted to historic preservation, many of the programs will
have an effect on historic buildings and neighborhoods, and they suggest possibilities
for a new role for preservation in our national life.
The
stimulus programs that appear to be most applicable to preservation fall into a
few general categories:
Transportation: Connecticut
is slated to receive about $440 million for transportation and transit
projects, of which $9 million must be spent on transportation enhancements, a
category that can benefit historic resources. In addition, the Department of
Transportation has already earmarked some of its stimulus money for continuing
its program of improvements on the Merritt
Parkway.
Energy
efficiency and conservation: Improving energy efficiency is a major goal of
the recovery efforts. Historic buildings are not specifically targeted, but
they clearly can qualify. There are grants to local governments to improve
their facilities, such as town halls, schools, and libraries, plus tax credits
for homeowners who make energy improvements, including such things as exterior
doors and windows, storm windows, insulation, efficient heating systems, geothermal
heat pumps, and water heaters. In addition to the $24.5 million directly allocated
to Connecticut
for energy efficiency and conservation projects, the Hartford Courant reports
that Governor Rell has applied for an additional $39 million for state energy
programs.
Economic
development: Community Development Block Grants will be made to
municipalities, which could be used for building restoration, façade programs,
street improvements, or parks. Funding for New Market Tax Credits, which stimulate
investment in underserved areas, has been increased. And, towns and cities can
receive Neighborhood Stabilization Grants to acquire and rehabilitate vacant or
foreclosed housing. Already, New Haven, New Britain, and New Milford
have announced that they will receive funding from this program.
While these
programs present many opportunities for historic buildings, they can present
threats as well. There is the fear that, in the rush to get money to work as
quickly as possible, legally mandated environmental and historical reviews will
be rushed or skipped altogether. David Bahlman, director of the Commission on
Culture and Tourism’s Historic Preservation and Museum Division, notes that so
far his office has only seen transportation projects, but staff members who do
historical reviews are noticeably busier.
Another
potential problem is that the Neighborhood Stabilization Grants, which can fund
acquisition and rehabilitation of blighted properties, also can be used for
demolition (there is, however, a cap on the amount that can be spent for demolition).
Again, the first line of defense is the CCT staff, but local preservationists
also will need to stay alert.
The
availability of money for energy improvements will create opportunities for makers
of replacement windows and vinyl siding who market their products as
environmentally friendly. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is
distributing information on more preservation-friendly weatherization practices
to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Conference of
Mayors, which lobbied for the energy efficiency program. The National Trust is also
proposing a bonus credit for owners of historic buildings who do retrofits that
are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. For information
on the advantages of repairing, rather than replacing, historic windows, see
CPN, January/February 2009 (also available at www.cttrust.org).
At present,
the greatest difficulty seems to be finding out what recovery funding is
available and how to get access to it. Local governments and other
organizations will have to do their homework. A number of websites with
information on stimulus programs are listed below; unfortunately, no single
site seems to have all the answers.
Despite
these fears and the neglect of preservation as an stated recovery strategy, the
emphasis on sustainability and conservation has the potential to develop into a
broader reshaping of American life and development patterns along smart-growth,
historically-based lines—a reshaping potentially as far-ranging as the results
of the New Deal and post-World War II government initiatives which fueled
sprawl, urban renewal, and widespread demolition. As Robert Ivy, editor
of Architectural Record, writes in
the March issue: “While architects love a new construction site, strategically,
preservation is sounding better and better—whether the historic variety or the
act of saving or revitalizing ordinary structures. In a down economy, it makes
good sense to make the most of what you already have.” As recovery efforts
continue, we hope that more will heed this message.
