“Don’t make ‘em like they used to”

Some people like the old style of architecture, which is possible but very expensive to reproduce with modern techniques (custom masonry, built in carpentry, that kind of thing)

my house is well over a hundred years old and was built out of wood, it's been well taken care of (still has the original roof, even!), why exactly would I want to rebuild a perfectly good building? These buildings have been standing a long time, they aren't exactly going anywhere

My home is 100 years old and probably one of the younger houses in the area. Many homes have been renovated in part of over time. Things like adding electricity, changing the electrical to be modern, adding additions, converting rooms and adding modern plumbing, changing siding and roofing, HVAC installed, etc. So over time, the home is modernized but the original frame (the "good bones") are still there.

And let me tell you, those old frames are unbelievable if they've been taken care of. If you do a renovation and open it up the wood is thick with tight, straight grain. A lot of these homes were built with old growth timber that was abundant at that time and unavailable today. The natural aging of the wood has dried out moisture and resins and makes for stronger lumber, albeit lumber that is more brittle which isn't a concern for how it is being used.

There's a good chance the wood was quarter sawn as well and if you have the original floorboards there's a good chance they were quarter sawn back then too. This, again, makes for better construction as the wood won't warp as much.

In this particular location, the houses are an eclectic collection of architectural styles from many countries and cultures.

Why tear down something that is of historic value, and has a character and beauty completely missing from modern housing?

Why rebuild if the house is in good condition?