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In the 21st century, New Jerseyans continue to struggle with how to achieve a society where all citizens have a chance to share in the benefits of economic productivity while we simultaneously conserve, protect, and replenish our historical, cultural, and natural resources. Historic preservation can help achieve this goal. New Jersey's past is intrinsically linked to its future.
Settled in the 1630s, New Jersey is home to some of the oldest places in the country. According to Preservation New Jersey, a non-profit statewide historic preservation organization, 45 percent of New Jersey's dwellings were built before 1959, and in urban areas, that percentage is much higher - two out of three in Newark, for example.
Instead of neglecting structures in our existing communities, we should preserve them as a critical part of our ongoing effort to save natural resources and limit sprawl development. By valuing our existing resources and reusing them, we can reduce the need to consume open space, natural resources, and farmland. We can create new housing close to transit, shopping, and jobs. We can save money by using the sewers, streets, and utility lines we've already built, instead of spending money on new infrastructure and neglecting our previous investments. We can spur heritage tourism throughout the state.
- Saving History, Saving Money: the Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation
- State-Level Historic Preservation Programs
- Historic Preservation at the Local Level
- Historic Preservation In Action: Case Studies & Ordinances
- Historic Preservation Links