The Economic Power of Heritage and Place
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THE ECONOMIC POWER OF HERITAGE AND PLACE HOW HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN COLORADO THE ECONOMIC POWER OF HERITAGE AND PLACE HOW HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN COLORADO Prepared for the Colorado Historical Foundation and funded by a State Historical Fund grant from History Colorado Prepared by Clarion Associates of Colorado, LLC October 2011 | I CONTENTS OVERVIEW | 1 THE POWER OF PRESERVATION IN COLORADO | 1 INTRODUCTION | 2 ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT | 2 PRESERVATION AND THE ECONOMY | 6 PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC RESOURCES | 7 CASE STUDY: PUttING MAIN STREET® TO WORK IN BRUSH | 14 CASE STUDY: GROWING LOCAL BUSINESSES IN HISTORIC OLDE TOWN ARVADA | 15 HERITAGE TOURISM | 18 CASE STUDY: CREATING JOBS THROUGH PRESERVATION IN SAN JUAN COUNTY AND SILVERTON | 20 PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITIES | 22 PROPERTY VALUES AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY | 23 CASE STUDY: BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH HISTORY COLORADO MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES | 30 PRESERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 32 CASE STUDY: HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION AT SAN JUAN COUNTY’S HISTORIC SHENANDOAH–DIVES MILL | 34 CASE STUDY: SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC CITY FACILITIES IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS | 35 CASE STUDY: ALLIANCE CENTER, A HOME FOR GREEN ORGANIZATIONS | 36 CASE STUDY: SUSTAINABLE REHABILITATION OF EMERSON SCHOOL | 37 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 38 About this 2011 Update In 2001, the Colorado Historical Foundation kicked off a major effort to regularly identify, study, and document the economic benefits of historic preservation in Colorado. The first study was released in 2002 and received the 2003 Stephen H. Hart Award from History Colorado for “Outstanding Achievement in Preserving Colorado’s Cultural Heritage.” An update to the first report was released in 2005. This report summarizes a major update of the research that concluded in 2011. It carries forward and updates many of the significant issues addressed in previous editions. It also contains important new features, including: • a new overall focus on the relationship between historic preservation and sustainability; • new case studies that document recent success stories of how preservation creates jobs and generates positive economic impacts around the state; and • highlights from similar studies of the benefits of historic preservation from throughout the country. Like the previous editions, a separate Technical Report describes the analysis, methodology, and findings of this Summary Report in further detail. Copies of the 2011 Technical Report are available from History Colorado at www.historycolorado.org. II | OVERVIEW THE POWER OF PRESERVATION IN COLORADO Colorado citizens can easily understand and appreciate the economic benefits of historic preservation. In their own neighborhoods they can see first−hand how preservation boosts local economies by creating jobs and household income, leveraging capital, and encouraging reinvestment in local communities. This report identifies and explains preservation’s significant economic benefits, both at the local level and for the state as a whole, and also for the owners and users of historic properties. The benefits of preservation are not just economic. This report shows how preservation supports long–term community sustainability by revitalizing neighborhoods, raising and protecting property values, and preserving cultural traditions. Historic preservation also helps the environment by promoting energy efficiency and the conservation of natural resources. In summary, the benefits of historic preservation in Colorado are substantial: • Preservation Creates Jobs. Approximately 32 new jobs are generated for every $1 million spent on the preservation of historic buildings. Since 1981, historic preservation projects in Colorado have created almost 35,000 jobs and generated a total of nearly $2.5 billion in direct and indirect economic impacts. Acquisition and development projects supported by State Historical Fund grants have leveraged approximately $4 million in additional funds for each $1 million in grant funding, meaning that public investment in preservation is paying off for Colorado. In addition to creating jobs and income, preservation also is a key driver behind the state’s powerful tourism industry, providing interesting and unique historic destinations for visitors in every corner of the state, from Durango to Sterling, and from Steamboat Springs to Rocky Ford. In one year alone (2008), heritage tourism in Colorado generated $244 million in visitor spending. • Preservation Builds Strong Communities. Designation of local historic districts stabilizes and strengthens neighborhoods by protecting their character, typically enhancing property values as a result. Preservation programs also foster community pride, learning, and creativity, thus making historic neighborhoods desirable places to live and work. Beyond protecting history and improving aesthetics, preservation also creates cultural vitality and defines community identity, which helps communities attract visitors and engage volunteers. • Preservation Protects the Environment. Preservation is a natural partner with sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Through preservation, communities are able to address many environmental goals such as conserving energy, reducing waste, curbing sprawl, and improving air quality. In fact, one of the most environmentally friendly development practices is the decision to repair and reuse an existing building, rather than replace it, especially when considering the overall life−cycle costs and energy use of the building. Cover photos (clockwise from upper left): County courthouse restoration, Logan County (photo courtesy of AE Design Associates); Avery Building restoration, Old Town Fort Collins; Shenandoah– Dives Mill, Silverton; Bastiens Restaurant and Steakhouse, Denver T HE E CONOMIC P OWER OF H ERI TAGE AND P LACE | 1 Building a Sustainable Future through Historic Preservation INTRODUCTION – He tation ritage istoric preservation has contributed to bili To ha ur Colorado’s economic growth and well–being Re ism g for decades. Starting in 2001, the Colorado in – H d E Historical Foundation and History Colorado (formerly known as il c u o B n the Colorado Historical Society) partnered together to regularly o – m identify, study, and document the economic benefits of historic i n c preservation in Colorado. An update to the original report was o i D t published in 2005. a e e v r e l C o ECONOMIC BENEFITS In terms of organization, each of these studies examined the p b m o benefits of preservation at two levels: J page 6 e n t • At the statewide level, the reports documented the economic benefits of preservation by looking at the H i s cumulative impacts of the rehabilitation of historic t t o f r e i c buildings, heritage tourism, and statewide economic n e D B development programs such as Colorado Main Street®. i s t t s r o i • At a more focused level, the reports documented the c C t s – economic importance of preservation for the owners – y and users of historic properties, looking at issues like c P n r e property value trends in historic districts and the o i p c relationship of affordable housing to preservation. e f r COMMUNITY f t E y This report continues to examine the economic benefits V ENEFITS d B e of historic preservation in Colorado at these levels; it also a c l u introduces new topics to further explain the benefits of historic page 22 n e a s h preservation to the state and its communities. – n E N – e ig y RGANIZATION OF THIS EPORT g O R h r b e o n rh E Sustainability is a concept that individuals, organizations, o R e od es bl businesses, and communities throughout the state, nation, and S m ou wa tab seu rc ne world all embrace. While sustainability embodies numerous ili u e C Re ty – Regional M onservation – definitions that vary depending on context, simply put it is about endurance, longevity, and the ability to thrive. The overarching theme of this report is sustainability. 2 | I N T RODUC T ION Building a Sustainable Future through Historic Preservation – He As defined by the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations, tation ritage bili To sustainable development is “development that meets the needs ha ur Re ism of the present without compromising the ability of future g in – generations to meet their own needs.” Many view sustainability d E il c u o as an ongoing effort to achieve balance between three or more B n o “pillars” or core components: economic vitality, environmental – m i stewardship, and social responsibility. n c o i D t In the context of historic preservation, “sustainability” refers to a e e v r e not only the physical development of buildings and places, but l C o ECONOMIC BENEFITS p also economic resiliency and prosperity, the conservation of b m o J page 6 resources, the strengthening of people and communities, and e n the protection of history and culture. The National Trust for t Historic Preservation’s position on sustainability is that “historic H preservation can—and should—be an important component of i s t t o f r e any effort to promote sustainable development. The conservation i c n e D B and improvement of our existing built resources, including reuse i s t t s of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building r o i c C t stock, and reinvestment in older and historic communities is s – – crucial to combating climate change.” y c P n r Because the many benefits of historic preservation are so closely e o i p c intertwined with sustainability, the overarching theme of this e f r NVIRONMENTAL f t E report is sustainability. As illustrated in the diagram at left, E y this report addresses how preservation enhances sustainability V d ENEFITS e a B c in Colorado through its many economic, community, and l u n e page 32 a environmental benefits. s h – n E The major chapters of this report include Preservation and the N – Economy, Preservation and Communities, and Preservation and e ig y g the Environment.