How Do You Move Stuck Projects Forward when the World Stops Moving? Tips for Preservationists during COVID-19

Historic preservation is tough under the best of circumstances. Add a global public health and economic crisis into the mix, and projects that normally would be considered difficult might seem downright impossible. However, the Coronavirus has also created opportunities for communities and nonprofits to address some of the thorniest and oft-overlooked obstacles impeding their preservation efforts.

Speedway Progress Update – March 2020

Since construction began at the Speedway five months ago, the renovations have progressed by leaps and bounds. Thanks to our partners at D.F. Pray, the historic site is getting a makeover from top to bottom that is transforming what was once a collection of dilapidated buildings into a vibrant public space. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:

From Architecture Boston – “Shifting Gears: The historic Speedway complex—hidden in plain sight along the Charles River—gets set for a reawakening”

If winter is cold and dark, at least snowdrops and the promise of spring give us hope and hint of new life. The cycles of change—to cities and the natural world—can remind us that places have souls to lose. Emotions may be mixed. There is a quiet richness to the reworking of existing buildings that has crept into the psyche of the design professions as they resurrect past aesthetics, juxtaposed against new imageries and an overturning of previous uses. Those cycles of change reel from catastrophic to delicately nuanced, and architects try to counter one and orchestrate the other.

The Challenge of Balancing Growth with Preservation in the BPDA’s PLAN: Downtown Study

How do you envision downtown Boston thirty years from now? This was the central question addressed at a recent workshop hosted by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). Dozens of city planners and representatives from Boston’s residential, commercial, and nonprofit communities gathered at Suffolk University on January 30 to discuss options for future development downtown generated by the BPDA’s PLAN: Downtown study, now in its second year. The different scenarios could have far-reaching impacts on the future of preservation in Boston.

The 2010s in Review

The end of a year, and especially of a decade, is a reflective and celebratory time. For AHF, this New Year’s Day is particularly meaningful, as it marks the end of ten years of exceptional growth that afforded us new challenges and opportunities. The 2010s began during a recession that stalled several of our historic preservation projects, yet concluded with a groundbreaking, site control agreement, launch of a fundraising campaign, and more.

From This Week in Worcester – “City, Architectural Foundation Reach Deal on Worcester Auditorium”

On Tuesday, the City of Worcester and the Architectural Heritage Foundation reached an agreement on the development of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. According to today’s announcement, the City and the AHF have executed a Land Disposition Agreement [LDA] for the property, creating a cooperative site agreement and allowing the AHF to begin creating designs for the Auditorium to make it handicap accessible by today’s standards.

Let’s work together.
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