• It preserves the historic, architectural, and aesthetic character and heritage of a community or area, and helps to provide a sense of place and continuity.
• As suburban sprawl and roadside development make more and more places look the same, it becomes important for communities to keep their identities intact. Even one or two striking historic buildings can help to define a community and hint at its past.
• The sense of history can contribute to community pride, and to a better understanding of the community’s present.
• Historical preservation can add character and charm to a community, and emphasize its uniqueness.The preservation of old buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes can determine the look of a community, and may be an attraction for tourists as well.
• It can also be a source of community pride, and lead to other improvements.
• Historic preservation conserves resources, reduces waste, and saves money by repairing and reusing existing buildings instead of tearing them down and building new ones.
–Community Tool Box, The University of Kansas (www.ctb.ku.edu)
