[MassHistPres] Historic district as tool for turnaround

[John Newell]

`       Mr. Slate,

>At 12:26 PM 09/06/19, you wrote:
>Does anyone know of any cases where a historic 
>district was created in an architecturally 
>significant, yet troubled neighborhood which 
>resulted in the neighborhood becoming stronger 
>(i.e. more owner occupancy, less crime)?

         I believe that whenever the comparisons 
have been made, a higher owner occupancy rate is 
always fist in glove with a lower reportable crime rate.

         Somewhat relevant to this inquiry as I 
see it, is increasing trend in the three-decker 
market.  Ms. Abby Goodnough reports in NYTimes:
>June 20, 2009   Hard Times for New England’s 3-Deckers  By Abby Goodnough
>
>NEW BEDFORD, Mass. ­ As foreclosures batter the 
>dense neighborhoods of urban New England, a regional emblem is under siege.
>
>Three-decker homes, which proliferated in cities 
>like Boston; Providence, R.I.; and Worcester, 
>Mass., a century ago and remain fixtures of the 
>landscape, are being foreclosed on at 
>disproportionate rates, left to decay and even razed.
         see 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/us/20triple.html?hp=&pagewanted=all> 
for the full article

         Mentioned in the article are several 
issues of value to the common weal, all 
potentially sympathetic with historic 
preservation. Our reporter presents a span of 
representative spokesmen for affordable housing, 
green space, urban qol; community activists, 
government officials, and at least one celebrity 
of note who laments the threat that non-owner-occupancy presents.

         Preserve and persevere,

         ......niiiiiiiiiiii