Help for Historical Commissions and HARBS

CCHPN Workshop Resources

2007 Workshop: Historic Resource Impact Studies PowerPoint Presentation (filesize: 14MB)

Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation

Much research has been conducted demonstrating the benefits of historic preservation on property values and tax revenues, plus benefits to businesses housed in historic structures. The Advisory Council for Historic Preservation has compiled state-by-state studies of the economic benefits of historic preservation. Though no studies have been compiled for Pennsylvania, the data for surrounding states is convincing.

Local Preservation Resources

Brandywine Conservancy

Chester County Planning Commission

Chester County Parks and Recreation Department

French and Pickering Creek Conservation Trust

Iron and Steel Heritage Region
The Heritage Region is a local effort to enhance and promote the historical, industrial development of the northern part of Chester County

Kennett Township Land Trust

Pennsbury Land Trust

The Wallace Trust

West Pikeland Land Trust

West Vincent Land Trust, Inc.

Willistown Conservation Trust

Regional Preservation Resources

Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia
The Alliance is among the primary preservation advocate in southeastern Pennsylvania

Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area
The heritage area encourages preservation activities along the river.

Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County
Though they are outside of Chester County, they do a good job and have a lot of good information on their website.

Natural Lands Trust

North American Land Trust

State Preservation Resources

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
PHMC is the state historic preservation office for Pennsylvania

Keystone Grant Program
The Keystone Grant program provides funding for preservation projects throughout the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Certified Local Government Program
The Certified Local Government Program provides grant funding to historic communities in support of their preservation efforts.

Preservation Pennsylvania
Preservation Pennsylvania is the primary preservation advocate in the state.

National Preservation Resources

National Park Service's Links to the Past
This is the entry portal to all of the NPS’s historic preservation-related services.

Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation
The Standards of the philosophical basis for preservation activities in the country.

Technical Preservation Services – Preservation Briefs
The NPS has prepared a great collection of documents on various building and rehabilitation topics, called the Preservations Briefs, which enable owners to make informed decisions when rehabilitating their properties

Technical Preservation Services – Checklist for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
This series of questions in a checklist format has been designed to help anyone who is considering the rehabilitation of a historic property.

National Register of Historic Places
National Register homepage at the National Park Service website

National Register Inventory
The National Register maintains a searchable database of National Register-listed properties by state and county

National Register Publications
The National Register publishes a variety of informative documents

National Historic Landmarks
The highest honor a privately owned property can receive is National Historic Landmark status.

Certified Local Government Program
This link takes you to the National Park Service which administers the federal program.

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
The center provides information and grants for heritage conservation, preservation, archaeology, research, training, and information management

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives
The National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service provide federal income tax credits and other incentives to encourage the appropriate rehabilitation of historic properties

Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record
The NPS operates a program to document the historic resources and landscape of the country.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust is the largest, most prominent, private preservation advocacy organization in the country

National Main Street Center
The National Trust for Historic Preservation operates the National Main Street Center to promote healthy downtowns

Preserve/Net
A general resource for preservationists everywhere