THE TOWN SCAPE 105 



To husband our resources well, we must first define (a) their 

 limits, (b) their qualities justifying conservation, and (c) what de- 

 tractions call for remedy. 



The greatest assets of our towns are (a) their individuality, (b) 

 special neighborhood and townscape elements, and (c) buildings of 

 architectural distinction. Each needs help. 



Conservation is only one facet of total planning. Conflicting 

 claims of heritage, use, and change demand decisive resolution. De- 

 cisions are impotent without a competent executive. And executive 

 agencies need initiative and incentive. Honor, encouragement, 

 awards, profit, all have their place. 



Given last, a program of education in appreciation, maintenance, 

 and management, our cities can then earn and deserve our pride. 



FRITHJOF M. LUNDE. There are a very few "Lyndhursts" in 

 America; and few cities and counties have other than isolated exam- 

 ples of Early 18th Century, Post-Bellum or Eclectic residential archi- 

 tecture under the protection of the public domain. 



There are, however, in the heart of almost all municipalities indi- 

 vidual fine houses or rows of mansions on the fine or once-fine 

 streets, usually of high quality construction, often architecturally 

 significant or at least exemplary of the vigorous, exuberant forms 

 of vernacular Gothic, Georgian, Richardsonian, Greek Revival, or 

 regional styles. 



They are generally in financial or maintenance decline, passing 

 out of owning families, into the gray areas of urban blight or into 

 conversion to funeral parlors, private schools replete with awkward 

 fire escapes, or into dereliction for tax, probate, or area obsolescence 

 reasons. 



As the decades pass they will ultimately be (if they still exist) part 

 of our historical heritage to a greater and greater degree. Even now, 

 along with public buildings they are the only buildings of quality 

 which most communities possess. 



This proposal seeks to define a possible zoning-redevelopment 

 framework in which government, institutions, and entrepreneurs 

 singly or in concert can work to preserve this heritage in as many 

 areas as possible. 



"Mansion-Row Zoning" would be premised on the thesis that the 

 better historical-architectural prototypes, and more particularly 

 groups of them, where such exist, are vested with a public interest 

 whether or not they are in the public domain at the time of their 



