Preservation Vision: NYC is a call to interested citizens and preservation practitioners to think about the future of historic preservation. What impacts will the city's projected growth have on the architectural, historical and cultural fabric of the city by 2030? How should preservationists appraise the capabilities of the field, imagine future needs and plan accordingly?
Preservation Vision: NYC aims to collect the data and start the discussion for the historic preservation field to think creatively and productively about the long-term goals. Several phases of planned activities are described below, and we invite you to participate with your colleagues and neighbors in this project — and help spread the word!
This project was begun by a few New York charitable funders and preservation professionals interested in starting a conversation about the future of preservation — especially in light of the Mayor's forward-thinking PlaNYC effort. It is not a project of any particular organization - it aims to collect and present an "idea bank" of actions that could be taken to assist the preservation field to expand its effectiveness over the next twenty years. See Who's Involved
The funders initiating Preservation Vision: NYC selected Minerva Partners to host and manage the project. Minerva Partners is a non-profit organization working around the world to find solutions to issues of cultural heritage preservation and community development. A steering committee has been working with Minerva to oversee this project.
Project Phasing
It is the expectation and hope that all preservation organizations, individual practitioners, those working in allied fields (planning, housing, community development, etc) and interested citizens throughout the five boroughs will participate in this project. Please spread the news of the project, particularly of the survey, to all parties that you think may be interested.
In an effort to engage broad participation by individuals interested in and working in historic preservation and associated fields in NYC a graduated process of gathering feedback, analyzing the input and producing the goals and vision statement is being implemented.
PHASE 1 of the project began by casting a wide net to gather input from the entire “preservation community” in New York. A combination of information gathering tools were implemented including an online survey to generate the broadest input from a diverse group of stakeholders, several roundtable discussion groups and meetings with organizations.
The online survey generated a snapshot of the current issues, demonstrated successes and a short-list of vision ideas (an idea bank) for the future of preservation in the city. Over 360 individuals completed the survey form. Roundtable discussions focused on the top three issues raised in the survey — affordable housing, environmental sustainability and land-use regulations.
PHASE 2 of the project include detailed analysis of the results of the survey and information gathered in phase 1. In addition, a meeting at the Pocantico Conference Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund was held and included 22 emerging preservation leaders and practitioners. This group came together to discuss the ideas generated to date and identify others.
The participants in the Pocantico meeting identified six key issues for possible priorities into the future — increased incentives, funding, messaging/branding, alliances/coalitions, environmental sustainability, and research/data. These ideas and the others from phase one will be included in the final strategic visioning document to stimulate discussion among the many individuals and organizations who might implement these ideas in the future.
PHASE 3 of the project is set to include more roundtable discussions and a one-day workshop. Preliminary ideas from the previous phases will be circulated and a large group of 150-200 will be invited to participate in a facilitated discussion to expand on the ideas and identify new ones. A final project report will follow and be circulated via the project website by the end of January 2009.
