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The Biden administration is seeking to accelerate the timelines for the permitting and reviews of historic buildings, with a new focus on climate resiliency.

According to a Bloomberg report, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency, has proposed a draft program comment on Accessible, Climate-Resilient, Connected Communities. If approved, federal agencies will have an alternate way to comply with provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act relating to climate-smart buildings, climate-friendly transportation, and housing.

The changes are designed to promote the “renovation and reuse of America’s historic buildings for housing that is affordable, accessible, energy-efficient, climate resilient, and hazard-free.” Most interior renovation projects would be exempt from the review process and would enable site work and facade projects with limited or no reviews.

The proposal also seeks to ensure emissions reductions and energy savings through the installation of solar panels on historic buildings involved in federal projects without further historic preservation review. It would also enable the electrification of historic buildings and encourage pedestrian, bicycle and public transit projects.

The changes would impact over one million households living in 190,000 public housing buildings in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s portfolio, along with millions of units backed by the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture and thousands of other projects receiving federal funding.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian pointed to a “massive infusion of investment” by the administration in linking sustainability with residential and commercial properties.

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“We are building a lot more, with a lot more capital than we’ve had on the government side, ever – and so we need to do that and abide by our environmental protection,” Quillian said.

 

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