Post on 14-Apr-2018
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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URBAN HISTORICDISTRICTSAT
MIDDLE AGE
THE SECOND 50YEARS
16th Annual US-ICOMOS SYMPOSIUM
Baird M. Smith, FAIA, FAPT
4 May 2013
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Colonial to Brutalist
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Preservation Success Story
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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An 18th Century
Port TownNational Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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Boundaries: Manmade & Natural
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Old & Historic District, Established 1946
Parker Gray Historic District, 1984
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Early Historic Precincts Charleston, SC
Savannah, GE
Annapolis, MD Newport, RI
New Orleans, LA
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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The Core of the City Ellicott City,
MD
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
13,000 Historic DistrictsNationwide Urban
50% Listed Prior 1981
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Vertical Growth in the Core
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Horizontal Growth in the Core
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Historic District Skyline
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This Presentation
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Brief History of the Historic
District
Growth and Development
Trends over 65 Years
The Next 50 years
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Alexandria - 1929
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Old & Historic District 1946
save from demolition
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Washington Street
King
Street
d
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NHL & NR Boundaries 1966
18thc. seaport
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Washington Street
King
Street
E d d B d i 1984
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Extended Boundaries 1984with 19th and several 20thc. buildings
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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Change is Constant
1. Population Growth
2. Building Size Restrictions
3. Dilution of the Core4. Transportation and automobiles
5. Life Style Changes
6. Horizontal Growth - Unsustainable
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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1. Population Growth in an Urban Core
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Historic District Skyline
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Alexandria
Growth to 1946 Seaport Town
Annexation
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
1922
1852
1920
1913
1850
1749
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Alexandria Land Use - 1963
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Alexandria - Today
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Old Town Population
Projected to be 12,000
Actual at 46,000
Remainder of City
Projected to be 134,000
Actual at 84,000
Total Actual at 130,000
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Development Trends Edges and Infill
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
METRO
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Fringe Development
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
2000
20081972
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2. Building Size Restrictions
Land Use
Frozen in
TimeNational Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
1992 Zoning
1963 Land Use
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Zoning Uniformity Purification
of Building
UsesNational Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Overstock of Small Floor Plates 2,000 SF =
Small
Businesses
Loss of
Diversification
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Police Fire Department Hospital
Library Offices Shopping Malls
Does it Matter?
3. Dilution of the Core
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Success = Growth
National Academy of Sciences
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4. Transportation as a Determinant
National Academy of Sciences
Early
20th
M
M
18 th &
19th
Century
Late 20th
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Autos = Traffic & Parking Issues
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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5. Life Style Changes
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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Mile Walking Distance
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
7/29/2019 Urban Historic Districts at Middle Age: the Second 50 Years by Baird Smith
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Cities as Destinations 3.3 million annual visitors
Spending $583 million annually
3% to 5% annual growth.
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6. Horizontal Growth - Unsustainable
Not Cost
Effective
Permanent
PlaceHolder
Not
Responsiveto Market
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
HeadquartersTownhomes over
Two-story Parking
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Change is Constant
1. Population Growth
2. Building Size Restrictions
3. Dilution of the Core4. Transportation as Determinant
5. Life Style Changes
6. Horizontal Growth - Unsustainable
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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Another 50 Years of Horizontal Growth?
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Historic District Skyline
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Where is Preservation?
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
1960s
1970s
1990s
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Challenges to Historic Districts
1. Have Historic Resources Been Fully
Documented?
2. Is the Historic Integrity of the Districtnow in Question?
3. With the Passage of Time, is there a
New Significance Statement?4. Should the NR Require nomination
updates? Every 25 years?
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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Contributing or Intrusions?
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Built Late 1940s - Now 70 Years Old
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Place Holders the Next 50 Years
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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How Will We Influence Change?
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
Built in the 1960s - - Now 50 Years Old
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Advocate Some Vertical Growth
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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In Summary,
Future Viability of Historic Districts
Redefine Impact to Historic Resources
Advocate Some Vertical Growth
How do we Unwind the Regulations
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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US ICOMOS Actions
Continue Thoughtful Inquiry
Bring Attention to the NHPA 50-year
Anniversary - 2016
Consider Focus on Historic Districts
Examine, again, European Models
Require NR Updates 25 years?
Rethink Boards of Architectural Review
National Academy of Sciences
American Institute of Architects
Headquarters
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URBAN HISTORICDISTRICTSAT
MIDDLE AGETHE
SECOND 50 YEARS
Baird M. Smith, FAIA, FAPT
bsmith@quinnevans.com