CULTURAL PRESERVATION
PLAYING BALL WITH PRESERVATION
COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
Photo: William Jay Miller
The greenest building is the one that already exists. When traveling to Cooperstown, New York, you see how a town can maintain historic character while paving the way to a greener future. Consider how your community could benefit from doing the same.
What's
changing
As urban areas grow and infrastructure ages, communities are faced with a choice: repair what exists or build new. Conversations about which constructed environments are most beneficial for living in densely populated areas continue to evolve, especially with awareness of climate change. Historic villages and towns, developed before the invention of the automobile, have walkability, community and local business in mind. They are inspirations for how to build greener communities of all shapes and sizes.
What's already
possible
Europeans first settled in the village now known as Cooperstown, New York, in the late 1700s. Going forward 230 years, the village’s historic district still has more than 500 heritage buildings. As a destination recognized by the New York State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service, Cooperstown is showing other communities how preservation, revitalization and green upgrades work hand in hand.
Seizing
the opportunity
Cooperstown heavily regulates demolition in favor of rehabilitating old buildings, This keeps debris out of landfills and ensures old buildings are preserved for future generations. Ongoing building maintenance includes small and simple repairs to grand restoration. At the historic Doubleday Field grandstand, which dates to 1939, large projects to stabilize historic masonry allows the stadium to entertain guests for generations. The village also promotes green energy and energy efficiency in its preservation ordinance, like rewiring historic lamp posts for LED bulbs and insulating old buildings.
Standout
tactic
Where old infrastructure has aged beyond repair, the village considers how to build it back better. One construction project on main street incorporated the need to address aging street trees. Being unlikely to survive the construction, the trees were replaced with native species and rain gardens to keep water off sidewalks and maintain a healthy watershed.
How
it helps
The ongoing efforts to revitalize and upgrade historic Cooperstown mean the village’s character will continue long into the future and better connect residents to the area’s heritage. Preservation in urban districts also creates an enjoyable environment and promotes walkability and all of its benefits.
Diving
deeper
While preserving old buildings reduces landfill waste, upgrading them to modern standards often requires significant resources and may cost more than new construction. How can communities balance the benefits of historic preservation with the challenges of environmental impact and financial burden in urban planning?
Increasing
impact
Financial incentives for integrating energy-efficient technology in old buildings without compromising their historic character can make it more appealing for individual property owners to follow the lead set by a local government. In New York State, tax credits for historic homes provide one form of assistance.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
