Here are a few of the very many success stories when cities and towns preserve and often repurpose their historic buildings.
The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Champaign, IL repurposed the historic Orpheum Theatre. The City of Champaign was interested in purchasing the theatre and razing it to make way for a parking lot. The Preservation and Conservation Association (PACA) saved this building from demolition.
The Dana House in Springfield, IL receives thousands of visitors every year. The proceeds from tours bring the city over $120,000/year, not including revenue to restaurants, hotels, etc.
The Ransom Gillis House in Detroit, MI was uninhabited for over 40 years. It was just rehabbed by HGTV Rehab addict. See before and after pictures here: http://www.hgtv.com/shows/rehab-addict-detroit/before-and-after-tour-the-renovated-ransom-gillis-house-pictures
The Burnham Athenaeum, 306 W. Church St. , Champaign, Illinois was built in 1896 and given to the community by Albert C. and Julia Burnham, the original owners of the Burnham House to be Champaign's first public library. The Burnham Athenaeum is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Athenaeum was repurposed for the law offices of Meyer Capel, who now represent the Unit 4 school board as they make plans to demolish the Burnham House.
The Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY purchased a 13,000-sq foot mansion directly across from the school's campus for $1.4 million. The school plans to transform the facility into a new center for fine and performing arts, with renovations that include dedicated rehearsal spaces for ensembles and student-musicians, a recording studio and classrooms in architecture, ceramics, sculpture and art. The first floor will serve as gallery space for art exhibits.
La Mothe-Chandeniers Castle in central western France was purchased by 7500 strangers for 500,000 Euros through the crowdfunding site Dartagnans. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/05/568594889/7-500-strangers-just-bought-a-crumbling-french-chateau-together.
The Kimball House, Chicago designed by Solon Spencer Beman in 1890. It was just saved from demolition and is now the headquarters for the US Soccer Federation.
The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum in Champaign, IL repurposed the historic Orpheum Theatre. The City of Champaign was interested in purchasing the theatre and razing it to make way for a parking lot. The Preservation and Conservation Association (PACA) saved this building from demolition.
The Dana House in Springfield, IL receives thousands of visitors every year. The proceeds from tours bring the city over $120,000/year, not including revenue to restaurants, hotels, etc.
The Ransom Gillis House in Detroit, MI was uninhabited for over 40 years. It was just rehabbed by HGTV Rehab addict. See before and after pictures here: http://www.hgtv.com/shows/rehab-addict-detroit/before-and-after-tour-the-renovated-ransom-gillis-house-pictures
The Burnham Athenaeum, 306 W. Church St. , Champaign, Illinois was built in 1896 and given to the community by Albert C. and Julia Burnham, the original owners of the Burnham House to be Champaign's first public library. The Burnham Athenaeum is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Athenaeum was repurposed for the law offices of Meyer Capel, who now represent the Unit 4 school board as they make plans to demolish the Burnham House.
The Canisius High School, Buffalo, NY purchased a 13,000-sq foot mansion directly across from the school's campus for $1.4 million. The school plans to transform the facility into a new center for fine and performing arts, with renovations that include dedicated rehearsal spaces for ensembles and student-musicians, a recording studio and classrooms in architecture, ceramics, sculpture and art. The first floor will serve as gallery space for art exhibits.
La Mothe-Chandeniers Castle in central western France was purchased by 7500 strangers for 500,000 Euros through the crowdfunding site Dartagnans. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/05/568594889/7-500-strangers-just-bought-a-crumbling-french-chateau-together.
The Kimball House, Chicago designed by Solon Spencer Beman in 1890. It was just saved from demolition and is now the headquarters for the US Soccer Federation.
Daniel Burnham believed that an attractive urban environment could improve health and social relations and ensure economic prosperity... Burnham's vision of an American metropolis grew from the appreciation of the past, and the commitment to improve the lives of city dwellers in the future."