“Older, Smaller, Better: Measuring How the Character of Buildings and Blocks Influences Urban Vitality”

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CITY

Realize the efficiencies of older buildings and blocks.Older, smaller buildings and city blocks “punch above their weight class” on a

per-square-foot basis. Their efficiencies include mixed daytime and nighttime

uses; common entrances and shared services; creative use of small spaces

and storage areas; and very little space dedicated for cars. Codes and

regulations may need revision to encourage these efficiencies.

Fit new and old together at a human scale.Mixing buildings from different

vintages -- including modern

buildings -- supports social and

cultural activity in commercial

and mixed-use zones. In the

report, scale also played an

important role: Areas with

smaller lots and more human-

scaled buildings generally

scored higher on the

performance measures than

squares characterized by larger

lots and structures.

Support neighborhood evolution,

not revolution.The higher performance of areas containing small-scale buildings of

mixed vintage suggests that successful districts evolve over time,

adding and subtracting buildings incrementally, rather than

comprehensively and all at once.

Steward the streetcar legacy.Many of the highest performing

areas in the study cities were

commercial districts with buildings

that date to the streetcar era. As

cities seek to re-establish transit

corridors and foster mixed-use

development, existing streetcar

infrastructure provides a head start.

Make room forthe new and local economy.The Older, Smaller, Better research confirms a correlation between a higher

concentration of creative jobs and older, smaller-scaled buildings and

blocks. These areas also support higher levels of small and non-chain

business, helping to keep dollars in the local economy and providing more

resilience against future economic storms.

Make it easier to reuse small buildings.Cities can help unlock the potential of vacant and underused buildings

by removing development barriers, such as outdated zoning codes

and parking requirements, and streamlining permitting and approval

processes. Targeted incentives and financing programs are also

needed to assist small-scale projects.

Read the full report.The Preservation Green Lab’s goals are to identify opportunities and to

share solutions that benefit residents, property owners, investors, and

community leaders alike. Read the complete Older, Smaller, Better report

for more detailed results and recommendations, including the research

methodology and community case studies.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s

historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same

in their own communities.

For more information, visit blog.preservationnation.org.

Photos courtesy: HerveBoinay, Flickr; Justin Kern, Flickr; AgnosticPreachersKid, Flickr; Kay Gaensler, Flickr; Sean Marshall, Flickr; Ken Lund, Flickr.