Save some space for history Click here: Richard Moe: Save some space for history <http://www.startribune.com/commentary/story/1460628.html> Excerpts from article published today, October 3, 2007:
The rediscovery and ongoing revitalization of this attractive and history-rich area is one of the best things that's happened in this city in my lifetime. But now there's a very real possibility that the rebirth of this long-ignored enclave could destroy the very qualities that make it appealing. ... It may be a truism, but it's worth remembering: You can't revitalize a neighborhood by destroying it. This practice of demolishing an existing house and replacing it with a bigger one is the most serious threat faced by older neighborhoods since the heyday of Urban Renewal, ... Mini-mansions get awkwardly shoehorned into established communities where they just don't fit. As bulky new structures get built right up to the property lines, trees disappear and yards shrink, and neighbors find their sunlight and views blocked. No one says that older homes or communities should be frozen in time like museum exhibits. A neighborhood is a living thing, and change is both inevitable and desirable. The goal should be not to stop it, but to manage it....but many older communities have no protective mechanisms in place and therefore are still at risk. Similarly, a comprehensive development plan...identifying sites where development will not compromise historic or scenic resources and establishing strict guidelines to help ensure compatibility in the design and siting of new structures. Richard Moe is president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
