Some have a notion that a core of historic buildings draws people and economic activity. Others say
renovating old structures doesn’t make economic sense.
Soon, Utahns may get new insights into the costs and benefits of historic preservation. A study
commissioned by the nonprofit Utah Heritage Foundation will analyze various aspects of the economy
taking preservation into account.
The Washington D.C.-based consulting firm PlaceEconomics was awarded a contract and will begin
research next month, said Kirk Huffaker, executive director of the Utah Heritage Foundation. A report is
expected by the end of June.
It also will evaluate the role heritage tourism plays in the state economy.
Huffaker declined to disclose the cost of the study.
The analysis will look at such things as the economic impact of commercial building renovations versus
demolition and rebuilding, said Donovan Rypkema, who will lead the project for PlaceEconomics.
The study also will attempt to analyze the impact of historic structures on community commercial areas.
In addition, it will examine property values of residential housing in local historic districts in contrast to
values of homes outside those boundaries.
Rypkema noted that while he has yet to look at such districts in Utah, in some other cities, homes in
historic districts retained property values at a higher rate than those outside of them.
Salt Lake City Council Chairman Soren Simonsen said the analysis is timely because Salt Lake City is
wrestling with such topics as demolition of old buildings, as well as the formation of local historic
districts.
The economics of preserving old structures may be difficult to quantify, said Stephen Goldsmith,
professor of architecture and planning at the University of Utah and former Salt Lake City planning
director. But it’s well recognized that a community’s cultural identification and social fabric are reflected
in its buildings.
Goldsmith noted that a new school of thought sees demolition as wasteful in aesthetic as well as
economic terms.
Reusing old buildings not only keeps communities from becoming "Any Place U.S.A." but can rekindle
vibrancy in neighborhoods, according to Huffaker.
As an example, he pointed to the offices of Big D Construction on the corner of 400 West and 400 South
in Salt Lake City that used to be the Fuller Brush building. The 1922 structure was renovated by the
construction firm. Not only did that save the building, but its employees are helping revitalize the area,
Huffaker said, because they dine and shop in the neighborhood around Pioneer Park.
"Historic preservation is often ranked at the bottom when it comes to a project because of the belief there
is a higher cost," he said. "But you can look at preservation as an investment." Salt Lake Tribune
