HCF Attends National Trust 75th Conference in New Orleans
New Orleans was the perfect host city for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s PastForward 2024 Conference, where HCF joined preservationists from across the country to share insights, tackle challenges, and experience preservation efforts firsthand.
Because preservation is an interconnected practice, this year’s sessions and speakers focused on addressing three of our nation’s biggest challenges: Creating Climate Resilience Through Historic Preservation, Ensuring a Representative Preservation Movement, and Encouraging Historic Preservation-Based Community Development. The conference offered a rich blend of topics, from climate resilience to traditional craftsmanship, all centered around these themes.
In addition to enjoying the conference and learning from my colleagues, I had the honor of presenting in a panel titled The Hardest Part: Case Studies in Easement Enforcement, alongside colleagues from the National Trust. Together, we discussed real-life challenges in enforcing easement restrictions to protect historic properties. Our session provided practical tools for easement holders navigating similar situations: The National Trust team shared case studies addressing various levels of easement violations, while my portion focused on HCF’s experiences in enforcing use restrictions on easement properties.
Reflecting on the lessons from HCF’s work, here are my top takeaways from the panel:
- Engagement Matters: Educating newer property owners about their easement terms fosters a sense of stewardship and collaboration. HCF is committed to increasing outreach, helping owners feel both informed and excited about co-stewarding their historic properties.
- Adapting in a Changing City: As urban areas evolve, enforcing compatible use restrictions remains critical yet complex. We approach these situations carefully, ensuring that any change in use respects the property’s historic character and minimizes alterations to its structure.
- Litigation Costs: Enforcing easements is a long-term commitment that requires resources. HCF’s program relies on transfer fees from the sale of easement properties, which help maintain a fund for enforcement.
Despite the challenges, preservation easements remain one of our strongest tools to protect historic properties for future generations. This conference was an invaluable experience, leaving me energized to apply these insights and continue advancing HCF’s preservation work!
