“Adaptive reuse” is the act of redeveloping or adapting old structures for new functions or purposes. This recycling of structurally sound old buildings has long been an effective historic preservation tool, sparing historically significant structures from demolition while helping to revitalize neighborhoods and contributing to the economic growth of older cities.
The City of Lancaster has a long tradition of adaptive reuse of historic buildings. In 1931, City Hall relocated to its current location at 120 North Duke Street to occupy a renovated structure built in 1891 as a post office.
Read about four more recent examples in an 18-page document, “Adaptive Reuse Projects in the City of Lancaster: Preserving Old Places, Creating New Spaces” (PDF document). These projects involve buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, located within different neighborhood contexts, but which symbolize Lancaster’s twenty-first-century revitalization.
Development of this document and its addition to the City of Lancaster’s website has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior.
This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.
