North Star Foundation


From Stephan Castellanos, FAIA, California State Architect http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov/default.htm

  • Historic Preservation… “Historic Preservation is not "frosting", "fluff" or "fad." It is tested and sound social, economic and environmental policy. 

  • A civilization (or a community) is judged by the monuments it leaves behind. Historic preservation educates and enriches the mind and spirit of a people. We must never forget that it is we who are the stewards of this priceless legacy. And may we accept with deep resolve the obligation to bequeath it--as unaltered as possible--to future generations.” 

  • Communities fight for the tourist dollar; and tourism centered around our historic legacy is the fastest growing segment of that industry. 

  • Historic preservation affirms environmental sensitivity: Just think of the many railroad tank-cars full of fuel required to bake--for a full week--the countless bricks that make up a vintage building. How much more respectful of our earth and its resources to conserve that huge investment in non-renewable fuel, rather than to consign it, along with all that labor and all those materials, to a non-biodegradable heap of landfill. 

  • Historic preservation has demonstrated its ability to turn "inner cities" around, replacing decay, indifference and crime with a sense of "roots", a sense of place, and a feeling of community pride. In the process, the cost of crime diminishes while the community's tax revenues increase.