It’s nice to see historic preservation in Butte’s Headlines. Kudos to all of the committee members and to the foresight of the Butte-Silver Historic Preservation Office in recognizing the need to take a comprehensive look at our internationally significant historic resources. The goals of the plan reflect a thoughtful planning process and an effort to reach consensus on how we might address the challenges that face us as we try to preserve our community’s cultural legacy.
I also urge the committee, however, to look past the restrictions that come with being a National Historic Landmark District and to emphasize the opportunities that this designation affords. Its sheer size may be daunting, but we must strive to maintain this treasure as we work to bring about a bright future for Butte. Limiting our efforts to a small percentage of the District amounts to throwing in the towel. Rather, given our limited resources, let’s look at how we might help property owners maintain their buildings and neighborhoods through public-private partnerships. While the assorted collection of grant programs and tax incentives may be beyond the reach of most of the property owners in the District, there are other ways we can make a difference.
Approaching the problem one neighborhood at a time may well work. For example, public investment in Emma Park is currently providing the impetus for property owners in the neighborhood to improve their homes and apartment buildings. Public works projects in the area have also fostered relationships between the Butte-Silver Bow Government and the Emma Park Neighborhood Council. Small special improvement districts (SIDs) can provide a way for property owners to band together to improve lighting, sidewalks and landscaping in their neighborhoods. Once these improvements are underway, neighbors are more willing to spruce up their own homes and businesses. Other neighborhoods are currently working to create councils that hope to engage property owners and local government officials in addressing aging infrastructure as well as deteriorating structures.
In historic districts across the country, rehabilitation guides have been prepared that provide guidance to building owners and contractors on how to repair and/or adaptively reuse existing structures while maintaining their character. Many of these guides offer lower cost alternatives to what are perceived as costly requirements associated with the rehabilitation of historic buildings.
During recent meetings held to plan for the new urban renewal district in Uptown Butte, many folks spoke to the need to tie our historic buildings more directly to economic development efforts. Let’s not preserve only for preservation sake, but because it makes good sense to use existing resources in our efforts to stabilize and grow our economy.
Janet Cornish, 954 Caledonia Street, Butte
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