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What about the future?
Tottenville has lost many significant homes and buildings, especially within the past few years. In many cases, entire blocks have changed drastically and are no longer recognizable. Some of these houses were of simple design, while others were more ornate and stately. Regardless, every one of them had a story to tell. Every one of them was part of our heritage.
More and more, communities all over the United States are complaining about losing their cultural and historic heritage, and demanding that something be done to preserve them.
From The National Trust for Historic Preservation:
Across the nation a teardown epidemic is wiping out historic neighborhoods one house at a time. As older homes are demolished and replaced with dramatically larger, out-of-scale new structures, the historic character of the existing neighborhood is changed forever. Neighborhood livability is diminished as trees are removed, backyards are eliminated, and sunlight is blocked by towering new structures built up to the property lines. Community economic and social diversity is reduced as new mansions replace affordable homes. House by house, neighborhoods are losing a part of their historic fabric and much of their character.
According to wikipedia.org, historic preservation is a term used only in the United States. "Historic preservation ... is a professional endeavor that seeks to preserve the ability of older (e.g., "historic") objects to communicate an intended meaning." Simply put, historic preservation is the protection of our communities' own little piece of Americana. Our hometown. Our history. Our heritage.
Preservation is often widely misunderstood and misrepresented. We are working hard to change that, and have turned to advocacy organizations such as Historic Districts Council and the Preservation League of Staten Island to help educate ourselves, so that we may educate others.
We know that new construction and development will not cease. Change is inevitable. But by applying the tools that are readily available to all our communities -- reuse and rehabilitation -- we can maintain a balance that will ultimately complement our communities and stimulate economic growth, maintain financial stability, and retain and improve the quality of life we all seek.
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