The Sustainable Value of Preserving Places Discussion June 11th
(Akron, Ohio) Sustainable urban redevelopment will be the subject of the GAINS (Greater Akron Innovation Network for Sustainability) meeting on June 11th at Musica in Akron. The discussion for the evening will cover the social, economic and environmental benefits of historic preservation, adaptive reuse of existing buildings and neighborhood scale development. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for networking. The free program begins at 6:15 p.m. with time for questions and answers at the close of the talks.
Kathleen H. Crowther, president of the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) a Local Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Tony Troppe, developer of Akron’s own historic district will discuss the work of the local historic preservation movement from preserving buildings to preserving historic places and experiences that are tangible on a daily basis to most people. This preservation strategy employs productive partnerships and creative alliances with community leaders that align and further local community, environmental and economic development goals. Ms. Crowther was selected as the first local executive director to chair the National Trust’s Statewide and Local Partners Program. The Cleveland Preservation Society works to revitalize our diverse communities, strengthen the regional economy, and enhance the quality of life in northeastern Ohio. Mr. Troppe, is an award winning local sustainable developer who has been developing Akron’s historic downtown and its unique linkage to the National Heritage Corridor and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) Towpath Trail. The yearly local economic impact of the Towpath Trail is nearly 54 million, according to National Park statistics.
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In addition to the benefits of job creation, local investment and community revitalization, the reuse of existing buildings can offer an important means of avoiding unnecessary carbon outlays and help communities achieve their carbon reduction goals in the near term. According to Project Green Lab, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation: it takes between 20 and 80 years for a new energy efficient building to recover the energy consumed to construct it; buildings account for 39% of CO2 emissions in the United States; roughly one-quarter of today’s existing building stock will be replaced by 2030. A sense of ownership and engagement in preserving the character and quality of a place is a hallmark of lasting communities. Sustainable development is about more than just energy efficiency; it’s about creating vibrant built environments that are healthy, safe, and community-oriented.
GAINS is a local gathering of sustainability practitioners (and those interested in learning, applying and sharing community culture from a long term perspective). The group works to help advance good stewardship, sustainable values and best practices in the marketplace. The salon-style meetings, held the second Wednesday of the month, are free, interactive and open to the public. Engaging with community partners on such important issues is leading edge, visionary and vital to long-term sustainability.