In March 2020, the Los Angeles Conservancy released Preservation Positive Los Angeles—a study providing an in-depth look at historic preservation within L.A. and how historic places directly contribute to the city’s overall livability.

Prepared by Place Economics, the study provides data and analysis demonstrating that the preservation and reuse of older and historic buildings positively impact Angelenos.

The study was commissioned to understand better how preservation contributes quantitatively and qualitatively to the city’s economic, social, and environmental present and future.

Only 6.2% of total parcels in L.A. have been identified as historic through designation or by SurveyLA, leaving 93.8% available for new development, increased density, and much-needed housing.

While historic designation is not feasible or appropriate for every older property, HPOZs protect affordable housing, foster neighborhood stability, and serve as home to a racially and economically diverse population.

Of the 35 HPOZs that currently exist, 21 have populations where there is a greater share of racial diversity than in the rest of the city.

As much as 69% of housing in HPOZs has more than one unit, with 39% providing five or more units or apartments. This makes historic neighborhoods more accessible to renters and provides a greater range of rents and significantly higher density uses.

Rehabilitating older and historic buildings for new uses is not only cost-effective and good for the environment; it helps generate much-needed housing. Between 1999 and 2019, L.A. created over 12,000 new housing units through adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

Donovan Rypkema, principal of PlaceEconomics, prepared the study for the Conservancy. PlaceEconomics is a private sector firm with over thirty years’ experience in the thorough and robust analysis of the economic impacts of historic preservation. They conduct studies, surveys, and workshops in cities and states across the country that are addressing issues of downtown, neighborhood, and commercial district revitalization and the reuse of historic buildings.

Read The Planning Report’s “Economic Argument for Historic Preservation: Older Housing is Affordable Housing” piece as part of a Q&A with the study’s principal author, Donovan Rypkema.

To learn more about the findings of this report, please email us at advocacy@laconservancy.org.

Thanks to all of those whose financial contributions made this project and report possible!

Leaders

Donaldson Trust
Stephen & Christy
McAvoy
Next Century Partners, Michael Rosenfeld

Sponsor

Architectural Resources Group
Bret Parsons, Bret Parsons Real Estate
Historic Resources Group
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Thomas Safran & Associates

Supporter

Chattel, Inc.
GPA Consulting /Andrea Galvin
MATT Construction
Morley Builders
Nabih Youssef Associates
Structural Focus
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

This project was partly funded by a grant from the Los Angeles County Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.