There is an old saying about historic preservation: if you want to
bring an area back, renovate the worst building on the block and the rest
will happen.
Post your comments and experiences on this interesting quote.

worst building theory

I think this has merit. I have lived here since the late 1950's. I have seen the neighborhood go up and down. Many blocks had become terrible and I thought of moving several times. But, when one homeowner really does a nice job fixing a place up, it does seem to spread down the block.

And the renovation doesn't have to be exactly historic- "perfect." Mosts people don't have the $ to do that. New landscaping, paint, cleaning, etc.really
start the ball rolling.

It is amazing to me to see the improvements in this neighborhood over the last decade. It is beginning to look like the place I grew up. It still has quite a way to go, but it is getting there. I am glad I have not moved.

By old time resident

preservation

Your posting sounds like a direct quote out of a recent NSNA newsletter article.
To be the devil's advocate here- a great block can also be ruined by one, real eyesore of a house.... then it discourages the others on the block from maintaining their properties.......
Looking around Old Northeast, there are few blocks which are really all well taken care of......as for "historic", I wish the newletter & board would quit harping on it and encourage people to maintain decently what they have & give them understandable tips on how to do it..... some of the stuff printed in the newsletter is so far away from what the
nwighbors are thinking or are able to do.... we have lots of folks here without tons of $$$$$$ to make things perfectly "historic"------ isn't there some compromise here ?????????

By sounds familiar

From Worst to best!!!!

I agree with the saying! I just rehabed a property on the south side and it was in pretty bad shape. Its now in the top 5 houses on the street and it sorta kicked everyone in the Tail to get some work done.

Rick

By Rick