Restore in kind

Community First Bank, before and after, with Dekker Perich SabatiniBringing a building back to its former glory is a unique pleasure, especially when the building can be adapted to a modern use that ensures its future. This was the case with the Community First Bank shown here, adapted from the former Murphy's Drugstore Building in Las Vegas, NM, it is a focal point once again.

What do we do with historic properties that need restoration?  The answer I favor is usually "restore in kind", which I first heard from my Uncle Jim, an architect with the City of New York. This approach means rotted wood is replaced with re-milled moldings to match existing; steel storefront is adapted for double glazed windows; repainting matches the period as best we can; the brick gets repointed and rebuilt as required.  History is held dear where it can be, and new components are never acceptable where they are a downgrade.

Restore in kind makes most decisions pretty easy, but the gray areas are still there. How old before a building becomes historic? What if we can make it better? What if we cannot afford real tin moldings? How do we deal with a change in use? Fortunately most of these questions are answered here:

http://www.nps.gov/hps/tps/standguide/

I favor this approach for all existing building really, not just for historic properties. Or at least it's a good place to start. We shouldn't build new what we can adapt; our history is too dear.