If you have a good use for your old building, it makes economic sense to rehabilitate it.
Rehabilitation generally costs less than building new.
There are a few states that have grant programs for historic preservation. You should check with your state historic preservation office to see if your state offers any grants, or other incentives such as income or property tax incentives. One incentive that is available nationwide is a federal tax credit for rehabilitation of historic buildings. Additional information can be found on State Historic Preservation Offices page or order the Guide to Tax-Advantaged Rehabilitation from our Publications page. We are a nationwide clearinghouse for information about barns and barn preservation.