Wow! eBook
Preservation Politics: Keeping Historic Districts Vital
Author(s): William E. Schmickle (Author)
- Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (UK)
- Publication Date: 5 April 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 192 pages
- ISBN-10: 075912051X
- ISBN-13: 9780759120518
Book Description
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!
Editorial Reviews
Review
“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 Foundation
