New Orleans Conference: Preservation Matters

New Orleans Conference: Preservation Matters

On April 16, Mayor Thomas Menino traveled to New Orleans to serve as a keynote speaker for the “Preservation Matters: The Economics of Authenticity”. Co-sponsored by the Tulane School of Architecture and the Preservation Resource Center, “Preservation Matters” convened public officials, preservation organizations, and academics from around the nation to explore the impact of historic conservation.

Speaking in a restored building in New Orleans’ iconic French Quarter, Mayor Menino’s message was clear: historic preservation is a key building block for thriving cities. Drawing from his long record of preservation successes in Boston, from the Main Streets Programs in Boston’s diverse neighborhoods to the new Boston Public Schools headquarters featuring the historic Ferdinand Building, Mayor Menino highlighted the economic benefits and cultural importance of preservation. “We can make the case that historic preservation is good for our economic future,” Menino said, “but we also know that preservation is just as important to the collective sense of who we are.”

While in New Orleans, Mayor Menino also visited with Mayor Mitchell Landrieu and his Department Heads. With discussion topics ranging from tackling city revenues to basic street-level operations, Mayor Menino and Mayor Landrieu led a conversation that highlighted the challenges facing modern American cities.