Preservation Watch

Back in September 2003, the city's Independent Budget Office released a paper basically disproving the argument that landmark designation ruins property values, and now, a decade later, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation looks back on its legacy, and the uncertain future of landmarking in New York City. The study found that, for the most part, "houses in historic districts tended to appreciate in value at a slightly faster rate than those outside of them, and that the prices of houses inside historic districts tended to be higher than for comparable houses outside of districts." The GVSHP article goes on to attack the Real Estate Board of New York for pushing a wildly anti-landmark position. It's an interesting read, no matter where you stand on the debate. [GVSHP]