The Impact of the Historical–Architectural Component on Property Value

Abstract

The historic designation of individual properties and entire neighborhoods has experienced an evolution in its meaning in recent decades. The original passive approach to managing historical buildings, which primarily regarded them as “values” to be defended and preserved for future generations, has been supplemented by strategies aimed at their valorization, derived from an awareness of the potential of such resources for the community, as a means of promoting the economic and social conditions of local populations. This paper proposes a review of all the main research carried out in the literature over the last thirty years concerning the impact of the historical–architectural significance of property values, both from an intrinsic point of view by evaluating the weight that the examined variable assumes in relation to the market value of the individual property and an extrinsic point of view by addressing the issue of the evaluation of “spatial spillovers”, positive and/or negative externalities that neighborhoods with historical–architectural significance—understood as historical districts—produce on the values of the properties falling within them. The analysis conducted shows that, according to the studies carried out, historic-architectural value can have both a positive and negative impact on property values. This output is related to the type of historic designation (local rather than national), the architectural style, the building typology, and the conservation and enhancement activities envisaged for the property.