Customer Reviews

Historic Preservation: Project Planning and Estimating (RSMeans)

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The American construction industry has been waiting for this book for a long time. Its practical information can make this type of work a usual business practice, with profit for practitioners and retention of the public's cultural heritage. It can be done on time, on budget and still sensitive to original design and fabric, if the team has a well-rounded education.

As a graduate student in Historic Preservation, the information contained in this volume will be indispensable as I practice in the field. One of the major obstacles to restoration/rehabilitation projects is the cost. Projects sputter along because initial estimates are often based on typical remodel costs rather than the expenses involved in restoring to a previous time and workmanship. This book is comprehensive in scope, detailed in content and, I predict, will be well-used.

This is a very useful book for anyone who has a role in a historic preservation project. It's the only book I've seen that looks at the whole project from feasibility and financing to contracts and construction.

Not all of this book is riveting reading, but all of it is necessary to understanding what a large-scale preservation project might entail.

The authors have vast experience in some of the biggest and most important (e.g. the Statue of Liberty) preservation projects undertaken in recent times.

The only real flaw I noticed was in the discussion of using historic preservation tax credits: No mention was made of syndicating -- a process akin to selling -- tax credits so that nonprofits can take advantage of them.