7 Reasons to

LIVE IN A HISTORIC APARTMENT BUILDING

1. Historic structures have irreplaceable character.It’s hard to replicate today the quality and level of craftsmanship found in older construction.

2. Historic apartments are durable.Historic construction includes hearty construction materials such as slate roofs, load-bearing masonry walls, and plasterwork that often outlive the lifespan of materials used in construction today.

3. Historic apartments are soundproof.Solid brick walls, soundproof plaster, and wooden doors fight noise better than today’s equivalent of wood or metal studs and drywall.

4. You can take part in history lessons.By living in a historic apartment, you are part of history lessons, like the development of apartment buildings over the past century.

5. Historic apartments are often in desirable areas.Historic buildings, including apartments, are frequently located in desirable areas and city centers where there are established, amenity-rich communities.

6. You become part of the preservation community.You inherently become part of the preservation conversation if you live in a historic structure, especially if it’s in a historic district or on a list like the National Register.

7. Historic structures present opportunities.Historic apartments have what people want today in their living space—innate character, quality materials, and existing fabric to create spaces that adapt to people's needs.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same in their own communities.

For more information, visit SavingPlaces.org.

Michigan State Historic Preservation Office/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; NCinDC/Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0; Michigan State Historic Preservation Office/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; LearnFrom.BuildMore./Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0; The City Project/Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0; NCinDC/Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0; Michigan State Historic Preservation Office/Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; SDOTP/Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0.