“Just Fine? Rethinking penalties for illegal demolition in local historic districts,” Nov. 2021
This white paper helped initiate a coordinated advocacy campaign that successfully changed state law. Prior to the change, the maximum penalty local governments could impose for unpermitted demolition had become a cost of doing business in neighborhoods with skyrocketing property values. The reform, overwhelmingly supported by a conservative state legislature, restored integrity to a process that preserves housing diversity and supports heritage tourism.
“Easements as a Legal Tool for the Preservation of Historic Sites and Landscapes," Nov. 2014
This examination of a tax-advantaged legal tool for perpetual conservation of open-space and preservation of historic building edifices considers the utility of voluntary, private-sector measures in absence of or addition to land-use oversight. With interviews from several Southeastern U.S. states, the report illuminates the opportunity costs and carrying costs associated with preservation-easement programs.
“Worthless & Priceless: The Promises and Pitfalls of Monetizing Heritage,” May 2015.
Unlike natural resources, which are held in commons and managed in the public trust, cultural heritage resources are typically privately owned. How can owners generate revenue from the public benefits those resources provide, including aesthetic, tourism and cultural benefits? Several tools exist, including tax credits, and each has relative merits and limitations.