Before You Renovate: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Your Historic Home with Architect & Preservationist Alex Barthel

About this event

at What You’ll Learn Thinking about renovating a historic home? Before you hire contractors, finalize plans, or start demolition, it’s worth understanding exactly what you’re working with. In this hands-on workshop, architect and preservationist Alex Barthel will walk participants through the process he uses to evaluate a property before a renovation begins. Using real New Orleans homes as case studies, you’ll learn how to research zoning regulations, historic district designations, tax credit opportunities, property history, and renovation considerations that can significantly affect the scope, cost, and timeline of a project. Along the way, Alex will demonstrate practical online tools—including the City of New Orleans Property Viewer, zoning maps, tax assessor records, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, and other public resources—and explain how architects use this information to help clients make informed decisions. Whether you’re considering buying a historic home, planning a renovation, or simply curious about how preservation and design intersect, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how to assess a property’s opportunities and constraints before investing time and money. You’ll Leave Able To: Research the basic history, zoning, and regulatory context of a New Orleans property Determine whether a property may qualify for historic tax credits or fall within historic review districts Estimate the scope and complexity of a renovation at a high level Understand when—and why—to bring in professionals such as architects, contractors, engineers, or preservation specialists Approach a renovation project with greater confidence and fewer costly surprises Why Take This Class? Many homeowners discover restrictions, hidden costs, or preservation requirements only after they’ve purchased a property or begun planning a renovation. This class will help you understand what questions to ask—and where to find the answers—before you commit, saving time, money,…