Two Views Of Adaptive Reuse

Anthony Flint offers a window into the world of historic preservation by contrasting the fates of two landmark buildings.

1 minute read

September 18, 2002, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"The contrasting fortunes of the two old buildings provide a window on the world of historic preservation and the practice of ''adaptive re-use'' - the recycling of existing structures as an alternative to new construction. In Cambridge, retrofitting old manufacturing buildings has become the norm, while in Danvers the campaign to preserve the past has become a much more difficult fight... ''The big companies want to be [in Cambridge] and they are willing to pay a premium for rehabilitation,'' Kuehn said. In addition, he said, renovating an existing structure in Cambridge is in many ways easier than proposing a new building. ''You are seen as taking a negative - an eyesore - and turning it into a positive,'' he said."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Standing and falling

Tuesday, September 17, 2002 in The Boston Globe

History / Preservation Massachusetts

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