Sacred Places Success Stories

Finding new uses for old buildings can be a complex but rewarding challenge and adapting sacred places can be the most challenging of all. Whitefield, Epsom and Manchester are just a few of the New Hampshire communities deciding the fate of religious properties.

In partnership with Partners for Sacred Places, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has compiled a dozen examples of how various communities have successfully adapted their former religious properties for new uses, retaining them as important anchors and architectural landmarks. Each case study illustrates the process by which preservation and adaptive reuse occurred and provides contact information to talk directly with local decision-makers and experts. Go to www.nationaltrust.org/issues/houses_of_worship/success_index.html.

Many religious properties like this one in
Whitefield face uncertain futures.

The National Trust wants to hear your stories and will continue to add to this list of case studies of successfully adapted religious properties from across the country. Contact the National Trust's Northeast Office at nero@nthp.org (and copy admin@nhpreservation.org) to share your example. There's more information on Partners for Sacred Places and access to preservation resources at www.sacredplaces.org.

HGTV Restore America Grants

In 2006, HGTV's Restore America will focus on revitalizing places where people live, through grants for residential projects. HGTV's Restore America is a partnership between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Home & Garden Television (HGTV).

Since 2003, HGTV's Restore America has given 36 grants to projects across the nation that highlight preservation work. HGTV has told the story of these historic places through on-air and online content. Grants are available to nonprofit organizations and public agencies.

Approximately six to 12 grants will be awarded for projects such as the adaptive use of historic buildings for housing, creating upper floor apartments in Main Street communities or restoring Save America's Treasures sites that continue to have a residential use. Grant applications must be postmarked by November 30, 2005. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org/restore_america/ra_grants.html.

The 1772 Foundation