I& #39;m here to tell you that preservation is at it& #39;s core anti-capitalist. To be a preservationist is to recognize that our built environment has value and importance beyond the value a developer can extract from a property at any given point in time. I& #39;m a proud preservationist.
Here& #39;s a case study: Casa Aztlan in Pilsen. A developer purchased the historic community space, whitewashed the historic mural, and turned the building into apartments. YIMBYs would look at the apartment units added and say: "this is a win for the community." Wrong.
The building& #39;s use as a community space mattered. The mural as a historical and cultural marker mattered. As a preservationist, I see Casa Aztlan& #39;s value beyond the monetary value sought by the developer. https://chicagoist.com/2017/06/20/pilsen_mourns_as_iconic_casa_aztlan.php">https://chicagoist.com/2017/06/2...
Perhaps Casa Aztlan could have been redeveloped in a way that preserved the community use, preserved the mural, and added affordable units. But accomplishing that outcome would likely have required a more restrictive zoning at the outset, and government subsidy.
You can follow @CDRosa.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: