National Trust's 'ReUrbanism' Initiative Puts Adaptive Reuse Front and Center

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's ReUrbanism initiative has hit the ground running.

1 minute read

September 13, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Detroit

Andrew Jameson / Wikimedia Commons

Mathew Mesner announces the National Trust for Historic Preservation's ReUrbanism initiative by sharing news of one of its initial big initiatives: naming Detroit's Jefferson-Chalmers District as a "National Treasure."

Messner focuses on the Jefferson-Chalmers District, built mostly in the 1920s as a key commercial district, but also notes that the "Heart of Louisville," Kentucky, has also been included as a "National Treasure."

The ReUrbanism initiative encourages "urban areas to utilize their current built assets to realize affordable, sustainable, and livable cities," according to Messner. To accomplish those goals, the initiative lays out "Ten Principles for ReUrbanism," which are available online.

The ReUrbanism initiative so far also includes the creation of the "Preservation Green Lab" and a forthcoming book titled The Past and Future City, by Stephanie Meeks.

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