Historic Preservation at a Crossroads: 2009-2013 New York State Historic Preservation Plan

From the Introduction: "...'Historic Preservation at a Crossroads, the 2009-2013 New York State Historic Preservation Plan', has been prepared to help New York State better protect and enhance its extensive historic and cultural resources and to realize the economic, social, and environmental benefits associated with their protection and enhancement. The New York State Historic Preservation Office prepares a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan approximately every five years as part of its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act. The plan preparation process provides a basis for information sharing, discussion and thought regarding needs, issues, and opportunities. The plan that results from this process establishes a blueprint for action and provides informed guidance for all historic preservation activity with the state. Required elements of the plan include public input, an overview of historic and cultural resources, an analysis of preservation activities within the state, and an action plan. Preparation of the 2009-2013 New York State Historic Preservation Plan has provided an important and timely opportunity to review historic preservation successes and challenges, and to explore emerging opportunities and threats. It has been shaped and influence by several dominant trends including: Continuing population loss and economic decline in most of New York State's older cities, villages, and rural hamlets; Disproportionate growth, investment, and land consumption in previously undeveloped or agricultural areas in towns outside of cities and villages as state population growth remains flat or decrease; Increasing demands at the national and state level for urban policies that will reverse the longstanding effects of anemic reinvestment in older cities, villages, and rural hamlets; An increasing national focus on renewable energy, energy conservation, sustainability and the need to build (or rebuild) healthy, self-reliant communities; increasing interest in community design and the protection of community character; and a growing interest in local self-sufficiency and support for local businesses and economies, as evidences by increasing interest in farmers' markets, community supported agriculture, purchasing cooperatives, and buy local first campaigns. The plan's title, Historic Preservation at a Crossroads, emphasizes that it was prepared and will be implemented at a critical moment in New York State's history. The planning process was conducted within a rapidly changing state and national climate of political change, wildly fluctuating, but generally increasing gas and oil prices, and a sustained economic recession whose depth is approaching levels not experienced since the Great Depression. In historic preservation, as in most business sectors, these trends will likely continue to present challenges such as budget cuts, hiring freezes and layoffs, reductions in hours and services, program modifications, and other changes. At the same time, however, there will also be new opportunities. For example, new job training programs offering much needed preservation skills training and energy conservation techniques that can be incorporated into building rehabilitation projects would fit in well with emerging green employment programs, producing not only jobs but significant economic benefits in participating communities and regions..." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the New York State Historic Preservation Office, Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Historic Preservation at a Crossroads: 2009-2013 New York State Historic Preservation Plan

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