Historic Preservation in Legacy City Comprehensive Plans

Abstract

This paper focuses on the ways in which recent comprehensive planning efforts in legacy cities address issues of historic preservation. Using 15 comprehensive plans as archival sources, we conduct textual analysis to explore how each of the plans incorporates historic preservation. The findings confirm existing research that suggests historic preservation has grown into an integral component of city planning efforts. The research offers insights into the current relationship between preservation and city planning, particularly within the context of legacy cities, and suggests that, despite recent practice, preservation remains a more palatable strategy than widespread demolition.