In the year 1990, Portland city adopted a historic ordinance for recognition and preservation of its significant collection comprising of historic architecture and landscapes. Approximately 1800 properties are protected in the city including the Stroudwater, old port, Congress Street, Fort McKiley on great Diamond Island and the west among others. The main intent was to manage thoughtfully the unique character of the historic sites by protecting them from demolition, alteration, and ensuring compatibility with the original designs while putting up new structures. More and more buildings have been rehabilitated with historic preservations and new compatible buildings been build up. The abandoned houses have been rehabilitated and have new owners and master plans are been developed for the parks to ensure that the original work is preserved. For the success of the project, cooperation between the owners and the Portland’s historic properties is necessary. Before the owners make changes that affect the outside environment, they are required to consult with the Portland’s historic properties for advice.
This article is relevant in planning since in planning, regions are zoned according to land use. It is important to have areas and /or regions with unique characteristics that are of special importance either historically o economically preserved. The article offers insights on how cooperation between planners and owners of properties can be of great help in maintaining the original land use zoned. In the event that there is no such cooperation, property owners may unknowingly or knowingly change the original land use set and that can be detrimental to the environment or economically. For example, in this article, the Portland’s historic properties seek to protect the original plan and architecture and hence keep them as initially intended.
Work cited
http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/historic.asp retrieved from http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/historic.asp on 24th February 2014.
