[OKC] Historic Preservation + Sustainability

[Sharon Astrin]

This article really challenges some of our core assumptions about
sustainability and the built environment. Historic Preservation and
sustainability really go hand-in-hand. As Mr. Rypkema says, "*Razing
historic buildings results in a triple hit on scarce resources.* *First, we
are throwing away thousands of dollars of embodied energy. Second, we are
replacing it with materials vastly more consumptive of energy.* What are
most historic houses built from? Brick, plaster, concrete and timber. What
are among the least energy consumptive of materials? Brick, plaster,
concrete and timber. What are major components of new buildings? Plastic,
steel, vinyl and aluminum. What are among the most energy consumptive of
materials? Plastic, steel, vinyl and aluminum. *Third, recurring embodied
energy savings increase dramatically as a building life stretches over fifty
years.* You’re a fool or a fraud if you say you are an environmentally
conscious builder and yet are throwing away historic buildings, and their
components." *Economic Benefits of Preservation Session, “Sustainability and
Historic Preservation”* by Donovan Rypkema [image: Donovan Rypkema]

Donovan Rypkema, Principal of
PlaceEconomics<http://www.placeeconomics.com/index.html>, was
educated at Columbia University, where he received a Masters of Science
degree in Historic Preservation.  He has lectured widely on economic and
preservation issues relating to rehabilitation, community development and
commercial revitalization. His specific fields of consultation include
feasibility analyses for real estate and market analysis, economic
revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial centers, and the
rehabilitation of historic structures.  He is author of several
publications, including Community Initiated Development, The Economics of
Rehabilitation, the Downtown Real Estate Development Series and others. His
articles have appeared in numerous periodicals and journals. His book, The
Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide, (The
National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1994) is now in its second
printing and is widely used by preservationists nationwide.

* The article below contains excerpts from Donovan D. Rypkema’s
presentation, Sustainability, Smart Growth and Historic Preservation, given
at the Historic Districts Council Annual Conference in New York City, on
March 10, 2007.*


A Broadway producer who once told an aspiring playwright, “If you can’t
write your idea on the back of my business card, you don’t have a clear
idea.” So I’m going to begin by giving you this entire presentation at a
length you can put on the back of your business card.

*1. Sustainable development is crucial for economic competitiveness.*

* 2. Sustainable development has more elements than just environmental
responsibility.*

*3. “Green buildings” and sustainable development are not synonyms.*

*4. Historic preservation is, in and of itself, sustainable development.*

*5. Development without a historic preservation component is not
sustainable.*

*To read the entire article, click the link below:*

*
*

http://www.preservation.org/rypkema.htm


Sharon Astrin
L  A  N  D + F  O  R  M
Whole Systems Land Use Planning and Design
229 Edgemere Court
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Cell: 405.226.0255
www.landandform.net
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