Over the past fifty years, preservation policy has evolved very little,
despite escalating accusations that landmarking and historic districting
can inhibit affordable housing, economic development, and socioeconomic
diversity. The potential to understand these dynamics and effect
positive change is hindered by a lack of data and evidence-based
research to better understand these impacts. One of the biggest barriers
to preservation research has been the lack of data sets that can be used
for geospatial, evidence-based, and longitudinal analyses.
This first book in the series Issues in Preservation Policy explores the
ways that enhancing the collection, accuracy, and management of data can
serve a critical role in identifying vulnerable neighborhoods,
understanding the role of older buildings in economic vitality and
community resilience, planning sustainable growth, and more. For
preservation to play a dynamic role in sustainable development and
social inclusion, policy must evolve beyond designation and design
regulation and use evidence-based research to confront new realities in
the management of urban environments and their communities.