Preservation Politics - (American Association for State and Local History) by William E Schmickle (Paperback)
About this item
Highlights
- You've established a historic district in your town!
- About the Author: Bill Schmickle is a past chair of the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission and was a cofounder of the Oak Ridge Historic District (North Carolina).
- 192 Pages
- History, United States
- Series Name: American Association for State and Local History
Description
About the Book
Preservation Politics is a provocative look at the changing prospects for historic districts, and how local preservation commissions, volunteers, and staff can prevent and reverse decline by thinking and acting politically on behalf of the communities they serve.Book Synopsis
You've established a historic district in your town! Now what? Preservation Politics picks up where The Politics of Historic Districts leaves off, advising the established HPC on how to maintain momentum in their communities once the initial political campaign to win historic preservation designation has faded and the real work of enforcement begins.
Bill Schmickle goes beyond "best practices" to get to the political root of our district problems: a collective preference for putting preservation interests ahead of citizens and the larger public good. He argues that public service is the key to the long-term vitality of historic districts. Along the way, he takes on everyone who threatens district operations, from those who shirk responsibility and shred historic resources to those preservationists whose radicalism undermines public support. With wit and wisdom, this book shows that there may be no such thing as happily ever after, but historic preservation is worth the fight!
Review Quotes
"For years, Bill Schmickle has forced us to take a hard look at how historic preservation works in the real world, and he's at it again. There are signs that the way preservationists have always done business may put us out of business. The world is changing, and Bill is our Paul Revere." --Myrick Howard, president of Preservation North Carolina
"Schmickle addresses compellingly the question that gnaws at every local historical district supporter: Why doesn't the community love us any more? Drawing on examples from across the country to illustrate the plight of established historical districts, Schmickle uses trenchant prose laced with wisdom and wit to show how our historic districts can continue to survive and thrive." --Gregory A. Stiverson, former president and CEO, Historic Annapolis FoundationFor years, Bill Schmickle has forced us to take a hard look at how historic preservation works in the real world, and he's at it again. There are signs that the way preservationists have always done business may put us out of business. The world is changing, and Bill is our Paul Revere.
Schmickle addresses compellingly the question that gnaws at every local historical district supporter: Why doesn't the community love us any more? Drawing on examples from across the country to illustrate the plight of established historical districts, Schmickle uses trenchant prose laced with wisdom and wit to show how our historic districts can continue to survive and thrive.
About the Author
Bill Schmickle is a past chair of the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission and was a cofounder of the Oak Ridge Historic District (North Carolina). He is author of The Politics of Historic Districts (AltaMira 2006).
