In many ways, adaptive reuse is the resulting product of many historic preservation practices. No matter what type of work is done, using a historic structure for something different than its original purpose is a form of recycling that can promote healthy economic growth. The process is cost-effective, saves energy, and vastly reduces the number of materials needed to complete a project. The older building or site receives new life and is maintained for its historicity while a contemporary business may be allowed to flourish in a renovated space.
A few obstacles to adaptive reuse include several things to consider at the beginning of the project. The necessary investments or capital to properly deal with the upgrades and restoration to professional standards is a primary one that is more obvious. Certain grants and resources are available for situations that qualify and may be found through several links listed on the Additional Resources page or sources mentioned throughout the Preserving Waco website. Another obstacle would be the possible limitations of the historical building itself. Will it be able to support the renovation and expansion of the new business? Some historical buildings require more than others to bring up to contemporary standards or already have restrictions on what can and cannot be done to them. A way to mediate issues or lessen the number of changes may be to choose a property based on the perceived value it already holds. Can any of its present forms add to the corporate brand, vision, or purpose without making major alterations? In a similar vein, one must consider the challenges of dealing with the original site as well. Are there ways that the historical context of the site may reflect positively or negatively on the business or its future practices?
Specifically for proposed projects that want to create a non-profit, museum, or historical institution–whether in a historical building or not–, they may find additional obstacles or points of contention. One of these is not always considered thoroughly enough. Determining the strength of the overall vision and mission of the proposed non-profit and pitting it against its viability in relation to its environment or community can be a critical factor in deciding if the new institution should even exist. A key resource in Texas is the Summerlee Foundation and its reports on the sustainability of historical organizations. Their analysis of what has worked and what has not for various Texas organizations has given a clear checklist of the variables that need to be in place or repaired for continued success. These specific types of institutions tend to have a greater scarcity of community support or funding, making them vulnerable and more difficult to sustain.