I recently returned from a visit to the southwestern United States. Tucson, Arizona is a booming area with a modern, open downtown. Much like York – and many other places – Tucson is experiencing major sprawl. Where only four years ago barren desert and saguaro cacti stood, today they have been replaced by Home Depot and Circuit City and countless other retailers. Unlike York, however, the city limits of Tucson expand far beyond the city, so the tax base continues to grow.
Whenever I travel, I’m always attracted to the architecture. In Arizona, it was no different. Every place we went, I keenly observed the buildings around me. The architecture in the southwest is wonderful – cream adobe walls, red tile roofs, courtyards and plazas, etc. While you have to look hard to find a Spanish Colonial Revival home in York County (Elmwood has a few), you pretty much can look in any direction in Arizona and find the style. Add Mission Revival and Pueblo Revival, and you’ve just described about 90% of the buildings I observed. Certainly, there were a few modern, glass structures. But for the most part, the buildings were all the same. Don’t get me wrong – this added to the area’s charm.
But in York, we have such a diversity of architectural styles. Within a few blocks of Continental Square you can find everything from German Colonial and Georgian to high Victorian styles to modern and post-modern buildings. That is what makes York so unique. I’ve often referred to downtown York as an “open air gallery of architectural achievement,” and I think this diversity is not lost on visitors.
A recent York Daily Record article reported on the visit of tourism consultant Roger Brooks. I had the opportunity to attend the presentation. He conducted an assessment of York, based upon the perspective of a visitor. He spared no punches in outlining what was wrong: poor wayfinding signage, “unfriendly” parking atmosphere, trash on the streets, lack of flowers and other beautification efforts, limited store and market hours, etc. But he was also struck by the buildings around town. Mr. Brooks showed many photos of other communities that have had great success in becoming downtown destinations, but then pointed out that none of these successful towns have the architectural backdrop that York offers.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to give a tour of York to a Tampa-based architect. He was quite intrigued by the city, and afterwards wrapped up his thoughts with this statement: “I wish Tampa was more like York.” While Tampa is modern and new and sparkling, in his opinion it lacked the sense of place that York has. Such a diversity of well-preserved architecture creates a sense of place – one worth saving; one worth preserving.
May is National Preservation Month. The preservation efforts in York have created a unique community – “an open air gallery.” If you are interested in supporting preservation efforts locally, contact Historic York, Inc. (www.historicyork.org) and see how you can help. And on a national level, check into the National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.preservationnation.org). Their mission is “Helping people protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them.” Certainly, York matters to us, which is all the more reason to preserve our wonderful building stock.
Mark your calendars: Historic York, Inc. will be holding an event at the historic Schultz House on Thursday May 15. The evening will include presentation of the annual Preservation Awards, tour of the Schultz House and property, art show, annual meeting, appetizers, and keynote presentation on sustainability in historic buildings. In my next post, I’ll provide further information. But don’t wait – contact Historic York, Inc. at 843-0320 to reserve your place.
Leave a comment