we suck ass at preserving history/things in this country. We all have this attitude of tear it down and build something better. No one is talking about improving/maintaining/repairing what we already got.
If you want to preserve it, you should buy it. From my perspective, too many people in this country are exerting preferences on historicity/neighborhood character/style to the severe material detriment of others.
We preserve too much garbage. Many buildings are marked hastoric despite there being nothing historic about them. Them you can't insulate them, and other such things.