Placeeconomics has prepared and released a report about the economic impact of historic preservation in the western Maryland City of Cumberland. The 96-page report makes the case for historic preservation with clarity: “Where public resources are limited, it is imperative to invest in existing resources.”
The western Maryland city also boasts many unique tourism resources, including a National Heritage Area, National Main Street community, Maryland State Heritage Area, and a unit of the National Park Service.
Tourism aside, the community also has an abundance of residential, commercial, and institutional historic properties. There are over 2,400 recognized historic properties spread across a patchwork of national and local historic districts in Cumberland, Maryland.
The Placeeconomics report, which was prepared for the City of Cumberland, was presented to the Historic Preservation Commission in November, 2020. The full report is available for public download on the city’s website.
As the report states, “Cumberland is at a crossroads. It can pursue economic development that tears down existing resources in hopes of attracting economic investment, or it can invest in its older housing stock and commercial coordinators to capitalize on their potential.”
Preservation Maryland supports the leadership of the Queen City’s efforts to better understand the positive economic impact of historic preservation – and stands ready to assist in implementing the critical findings of the report.
OUR WORK WITH CUMBERLAND
- Preservation Maryland Loves Cumberland
- Preservation Maryland Offers Assistance to City of Cumberland and Opposes Costly Demolition Project
- Case Studies in Adaptive Reuse: Footer Building
- Heritage Fund Grant Awarded to Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization