preservation-law-summary

Generates structured legal memoranda on historic preservation law covering NHPA, Penn Central takings analysis, designation processes, and state-local regulatory frameworks. Use when summarizing preservation jurisprudence, Section 106 review, landmark regulations, cultural resource protection, or takings challenges to preservation ordinances.

11 stars

Best use case

preservation-law-summary is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Generates structured legal memoranda on historic preservation law covering NHPA, Penn Central takings analysis, designation processes, and state-local regulatory frameworks. Use when summarizing preservation jurisprudence, Section 106 review, landmark regulations, cultural resource protection, or takings challenges to preservation ordinances.

Teams using preservation-law-summary should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/preservation-law-summary/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CaseMark/skills/main/skills/legal/preservation-law-summary/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/preservation-law-summary/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How preservation-law-summary Compares

Feature / Agentpreservation-law-summaryStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Generates structured legal memoranda on historic preservation law covering NHPA, Penn Central takings analysis, designation processes, and state-local regulatory frameworks. Use when summarizing preservation jurisprudence, Section 106 review, landmark regulations, cultural resource protection, or takings challenges to preservation ordinances.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

SKILL.md Source

# Historic Preservation Law Summary

Produces a thematically organized legal memorandum synthesizing historic preservation statutes, case law, and regulatory frameworks across federal, state, and local levels.

## Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

1. **Jurisdiction scope** — federal, specific state(s), or local municipality
2. **Audience** — developer, agency, preservation advocate, or litigation counsel
3. **Focus areas** — full survey or narrowed (e.g., takings only, designation process only)
4. **Uploaded documents** — case files, regulatory guidance, or ordinances to incorporate

## Quick Start

1. Confirm jurisdiction, audience, and focus areas
2. Draft executive overview (property rights vs. preservation interest, three-tier framework)
3. Build thematic sections synthesizing statutes + case law per topic
4. Format all citations in Bluebook; mark unverified citations `[VERIFY]`
5. Flag jurisdictional variations and unsettled law

## Memorandum Structure

Format as a professional legal memorandum with Bluebook citations.

### Executive Overview (1–2 paragraphs)

- Balance between property rights and public preservation interest
- Three-tier regulatory framework (federal → state → local)
- Key legal mechanisms: designation, review, enforcement

### Thematic Sections

Organize by topic, **not** chronologically. Each section synthesizes statutes + case law.

| Topic | Key Authorities | Coverage |
|-------|----------------|----------|
| Designation criteria & procedures | NHPA §106, state register statutes | Listing standards, landmark criteria, district designation |
| Regulatory authority | Local preservation ordinances | Alterations, demolitions, certificates of appropriateness |
| Takings challenges | *Penn Central v. NYC*, 438 U.S. 104 (1978) | Three-factor test, economic impact, investment-backed expectations |
| Tax incentives & economics | IRC §47, state credits | Federal 20% credit, state incentives, economic hardship |
| Enforcement & remedies | Varies by jurisdiction | Penalties, injunctive relief, citizen suits |
| Intersections | NEPA, Section 106, local zoning | Environmental review overlay, adaptive reuse |

### Case Treatment Format

For each significant case:

```
**[Case Name], [Citation]**
- Property: [type and significance]
- Challenge: [restriction at issue]
- Holding: [ruling]
- Reasoning: [key points]
- Impact: [practical implications]
```

### Jurisdictional Variations

- Federal preemption boundaries
- States with model preservation statutes (identify which)
- Local ordinance as primary regulatory vehicle
- Circuit splits or unresolved questions

### Evidentiary Standards

| Element | Standard |
|---------|----------|
| Historical significance | National Register criteria A–D |
| Architectural integrity | Seven aspects (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association) |
| Economic hardship | Reasonable return analysis, maintenance cost evidence |
| Administrative appeals | Exhaust before judicial review in most jurisdictions |

### Emerging Trends (brief)

- Mid-century modern and recent-past preservation
- Culturally significant sites beyond traditional architecture
- Climate/sustainability integration with preservation

## Pitfalls

- **Overgeneralizing local rules** — flag state-by-state differences explicitly; never generalize from one jurisdiction
- **Binding vs. persuasive authority** — distinguish clearly when crossing jurisdictions
- **Unverified citations** — mark with `[VERIFY]`; cite all assertions to primary authority
- **Audience mismatch** — keep executive overview accessible to non-lawyers; use precise legal terminology in body
- **Neutrality** — acknowledge competing developer, agency, and advocate interests

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