Historic properties have a way of disappearing.
They quietly fall prey to demolition, neglect, or renovations that alter them beyond recognition. Building by building, site by site, the evidence of a community's heritage can gradually be lost through private and public action and inaction, taking with it much of the community's character, individuality, and vitality. Like any limited resource, historic properties need careful planning and management to ensure their survival for current and future generations. They are subject to the complex pressures and issues of modern society, and often their preservation appears to be at odds with the immediate needs for affordable housing, economic revitalization, employment, education, and so on. Remarkably, though, the preservation of our heritage is not a mere luxury.