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In June, 1999, Historic Boston published the fourth edition of its Preservation Revolving Fund Casebook.  Financed in part by a Massachusetts Historical Commission survey and planning grant, the Casebook includes a snapshot in time of 40 properties throughout the city of Boston.  The future of these properties is uncertain and the challenges they face as well as recommended strategies for preservation are outlined to encourage and guide action by HBI as well as others.   These properties tend to be in neighborhoods suffering from disinvestment, speculation, poor self-image, and a general lack of appreciation for the historic significance of the properties and their surroundings.  Consequently, Historic Boston's revolving fund does not typically compete with private real estate developers.  Instead, it acts as a catalyst by making high-risk investments in historic areas in the hope of attracting other private investment, such as has occurred in Charlestown.

The first and second editions of the Casebook  (1981, 1985) identified a group of buildings for which a consensus existed concerning their historic value and the need for financial investment to preserve them.  As such, they have served to guide Historic Boston Incorporated in its investment decisions, as will the current edition.  Additionally, the current edition will form part of a case statement for obtaining new support for HBI's activities and it is hoped that it will encourage investment by others and serve as a model for other cities and towns to undertake similar initiatives.   

Over 300 copies of the Casebook have been distributed to property owners, government leaders, preservation organizations, libraries, and others who have played or have the potential to play a role in planning for the future of our city.   The 134-page casebook is available for purchase from HBI for $17.50 ($15 plus postage).

Most of the 1999 Casebook is now available in an on-line version - please submit comments via the feedback form and stay tuned for updates.

While the 1999 casebook and its predecessors of 1981 and 1985 dealt with many types of buildings, Historic Boston's Religious Properties Preservation: A Boston Casebook, published in 1991, deals specifically with buildings built for worship.  It targets twenty-nine religious properties that are significant to the architectural and social history of the City of Boston.  At the time of publication, each of the twenty-nine properties had uncertain futures. 

Many people and many institutions will ultimately determine how many of these buildings will still bear their eloquent messages to our descendants in the next century.  As with the others, this casebook was intended to help guide where and how Historic Boston lends money from its preservation revolving fund or invests time and resources in technical assistance.  However, as in the past, the opportunities and cost for action vastly exceed Historic Boston's resources.  The preservation of historic religious properties involves a variety of voluntary partnerships.  This study has helped build a strong case for new sources of financial support for the maintenance of historic religious buildings which serve both their own judiciary activities and the larger community.  Follow this link to view the pathology of threats to religious properties identified during the production of this casebook.