Historic Resources Committee

Hello HRC KC:

Chair Sara Bronin of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is requesting review and comment on the ACHP draft policy statement on Housing & Historic Preservation. Please see her open letter below.

Please send comments to housing@achp.gov by November 11.

OPEN LETTER FROM SARA BRONIN, CHAIR, ACHP

Hello, 

I'm writing to you in your capacity as a national leader on housing policy from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The ACHP is an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and state and local governments on preservation policy and administers the Section 106 review process of the National Historic Preservation Act. As part of our advisory responsibilities, we've recently released a draft Policy Statement on Housing and Historic Preservation.

So here's my ask:  Would you be able to review it and provide comment about how it might improve?

At 43 years of age, the median home in 2021 is the oldest it has ever been - and 42% of public housing is almost 50 years old. The ACHP recognizes that historic preservation can be part of an overall strategy to address the housing crisis. The draft policy discusses the role of the federal government in rehabilitating historic buildings for housing and emphasizes the importance of financial incentives for preservation, flexibility in code and design-standard interpretations, and inclusivity.  It also recognizes the need for greater education and collaborative efforts to meet housing and historic preservation goals.

If you would like to provide written comments, please submit them to housing@achp.gov by November 11.  Feel free to publicize widely to your members and others.  I've publicly shared my own thoughts on the urgent need for this policy, and I'd be happy to engage further with you in the future.  Thank you for considering it.

Sincerely, 

Sara Bronin

_______________________

Sara C. Bronin 

Chair

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

401 F Street NW, Suite 308 

Washington, DC 20001

sbronin@achp.gov 

------------------------------
Robert Burns, AIA
Historic Resources Committee Advisory Group
Richmond, VA
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Thank you for posting the policy statement and call for input - I will review and attempt to respond.  In the meantime I wanted to let you know that the link you provided to the ACHP Policy Statement was not functional.  I was able to find it, however, here: https://www.achp.gov/Housing_Policy .  The deadline for comments is 11/11/23.  Thank you! 

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Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham AIA
University of Massachusetts
Amherst MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-25-2023 04:42 PM
From: Robert C. Burns AIA
Subject: Request for comment: ACHP draft policy statement on Housing & Historic Preservation.

Hello HRC KC:

Chair Sara Bronin of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is requesting review and comment on the ACHP draft policy statement on Housing & Historic Preservation. Please see her open letter below.

Please send comments to housing@achp.gov by November 11.

OPEN LETTER FROM SARA BRONIN, CHAIR, ACHP

Hello, 

I'm writing to you in your capacity as a national leader on housing policy from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The ACHP is an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and state and local governments on preservation policy and administers the Section 106 review process of the National Historic Preservation Act. As part of our advisory responsibilities, we've recently released a draft Policy Statement on Housing and Historic Preservation.

So here's my ask:  Would you be able to review it and provide comment about how it might improve?

At 43 years of age, the median home in 2021 is the oldest it has ever been - and 42% of public housing is almost 50 years old. The ACHP recognizes that historic preservation can be part of an overall strategy to address the housing crisis. The draft policy discusses the role of the federal government in rehabilitating historic buildings for housing and emphasizes the importance of financial incentives for preservation, flexibility in code and design-standard interpretations, and inclusivity.  It also recognizes the need for greater education and collaborative efforts to meet housing and historic preservation goals.

If you would like to provide written comments, please submit them to housing@achp.gov by November 11.  Feel free to publicize widely to your members and others.  I've publicly shared my own thoughts on the urgent need for this policy, and I'd be happy to engage further with you in the future.  Thank you for considering it.

Sincerely, 

Sara Bronin

_______________________

Sara C. Bronin 

Chair

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 

401 F Street NW, Suite 308 

Washington, DC 20001

sbronin@achp.gov 

------------------------------
Robert Burns, AIA
Historic Resources Committee Advisory Group
Richmond, VA
------------------------------