Browsing by Subject "Historic Preservation"
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Item Assessing the economic revitalization impact of urban design improvements: the Texas Main Street Program(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) Ozdil, Taner RecepThe relationship between urban design and economic activity is seldom studied through empirical studies with a large number of cases due, in part, to the implicit and intangible nature of design. This study was intended to understand, analyze, and evaluate the complex relationship between the design and the economic revitalization of downtown districts with reference to the 78 active Texas Main Street Program districts. First, the design, promotion, organization, and economic restructuring components of the Main Street Program's comprehensive four-point approach were investigated. Next, the economic changes that occurred within those districts were analyzed from 1997-2001. Finally, employment, the number of jobs, the number of business establishments, the number of sales tax permits, the retail sales volume, and the commercial property values were compared for the same time period among three categories of cities: those active in the Main Street Program, those formerly active but now inactive, and those who have not participated. Findings revealed that several positive changes occurred in design, promotion, organization, and economic restructuring components of the four-point approach within the active Texas Main Street districts. It appears that these changes produced several positive outcomes for the physical, social, and economical environment of the active Main Street districts. Moreover, the findings suggests that these changes in the Main Street districts resulted in an increased economic activity, not only within the Main Street district by generating jobs, or producing private and/or public investment, but also across the Main Street city by creating community wide economic activity in most of the variables that were under investigation. The results indicate that the Texas Main Street Program, part of which is urban design oriented, is having a positive effect on economic activity within the active Main Street districts.Item Preserving a Heritage: Creating a More Beneficial Historic Structure Report, for Contractors and a University(2013-12-09) Ellis, Evan DHistoric structure reports (HSR) are multidisciplinary and offer much needed understanding to all that use them. These reports are created to help architects, contractors and owners understand the historic importance of features and the building. This study investigates the importance of historic structure reports and how they can be more beneficial. The study created an outline to be utilized on Texas A&M?s College Station campus, on existing building that were constructed prior to 1940. This outline was created using literature and examples of HSRs. Then interviews were conducted with professionals from public universities of the same size as Texas A&M, historic preservation professionals, and general contractors. Following the interviews a more elaborate and beneficial outline was created. After modifying the HSR outline to be used on campus, the following conclusions could be made. The creation of these reports is beneficial to everyone that uses them on preservation projects. It is important to create a full HSR that even goes a step further than most, which addresses means and methods for implementation and addresses code compliant issues, and offers solutions. The creation of the HSR in academic setting offers research and economically benefits for the university.Item Preserving the Submerged and Coastal Maritime Heritage of the United States(2012-10-19) Catsambis, AlexisThe United States is a nation founded upon a maritime heritage that allowed for the early colonies to form, trade, expand their frontiers and defend themselves. The material remains of this legacy are dispersed across the continent in inland waters, along coasts, and in the depths of the sea. This dissertation aims at presenting a structural overview and assessment of efforts designed at preserving, enhancing, and learning from the material remains of this maritime heritage. The study reviews national and state laws and regulations that apply to such resources, which together create a mosaic of preservation mandates. Discussion of the legal framework is enhanced through incorporation of current issues and examples, and leads to a better understanding of the research element of the study based on a maritime heritage questionnaire distributed to over 100 organizations nationwide. The maritime heritage questionnaire serves as the fundamental original research component of the dissertation, and through it this overview incorporates input from organizations in the public sector, universities, museums, non-profit organizations, avocational groups, and cultural resource management firms. These diverse perspectives offer insights into the current state of the field, identify legislative or other gaps, and suggest areas where efforts need to be redoubled in order to preserve the nation's tangible connection with its maritime past. Together, the legislative overview and professional stakeholder input lead to a set of proposals through which the preservation of the nation's submerged and coastal maritime heritage resources can be enhanced.Item Sustainable disaster recovery of historic buildings, the case of San Francisco after Loma Prieta earthquake(Texas A&M University, 2007-09-17) Al-Nammari, Fatima M.Recovery from disaster is a challenging period for any community. Long-term recovery is important, especially in relation to the built heritage, but it is among the least explored phases of disaster. Identifying past problems is needed to reduce future recovery complications. This study investigates the long-term recovery of public and Non-Government Organizations (NGO) owned historic buildings after an earthquake in the light of chosen sustainability variables. It examines San Francisco after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake as a case study and analyzes time needs, community participation, and maintenance of historic character, to identify whether historic buildings faced special issues and the variables involved. The study uses different methods. It statistically compares data for a sample of public and NGO owned buildings in San Francisco and then analyzes the dynamics of recovery for three buildings that faced delays. The study has found that historic buildings faced delays in recovery but such delays were sometimes the results of major rehabilitation projects, thus having long-term benefits. There are many variables in the recovery process that delay historic buildings and can be addressed to reduce future delays, which are mostly results of the context, process, and players. Time needs for the recovery of buildings are affected by their function, damage level, and status. Also, the sustainability of the process needs to be addressed, mainly in terms of the way historic buildings are valued, and the degree to which such valuation allows them to be part of the heritage of the community at large.