November 19 at 5:30pm — 7:00pm
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, and frustration.
What to Bring
A laptop is recommended if you’d like to follow along with the online research tools, though a notebook is perfectly suitable if you’d prefer to take notes.
Alex Barthel
Alex Barthel is a licensed architect and preservationist whose practice focuses on the renovation, addition, and adaptive reuse of historic homes throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. He believes successful residential design respects a building’s historic character while embracing contemporary living and construction methods. Alex holds both a Master of Architecture and a Master of Preservation Studies from Tulane University’s School of Architecture, as well as a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Pay What You Can
We believe everyone should have access to preservation education. That’s why this program is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
When registering, simply enter the amount that works for you, whether that’s $0, $25, somewhere in between, or more.
Financial contributions of any size help the Preservation Resource Center continue offering educational programs and helps us keep them accessible to our community.
