As quoted from the National Trust's Summer 2006 edition of the Mountain/Plains Preservation News...

"A recent speech by National Trust President Richard Moe put the national spotlight on the 'teardown trend,' a phenomenon that is affecting hundreds of neighborhoods and communities around the nation, including several in the Mountain/Plains region.

"'I believe teardowns represent the biggest threat to America's older neighborhoods since the heyday of urban renewal and interstate highway construction during the 1950s and 1960s,' said Moe during a June 28th speech at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. He noted several alarming examples from across the country, including the 78 percent increase in demolition permits issued in Denver between 2004 and 2005.

"Preservationists are responding to this crisis on many fronts. At the national level, the National Trust recently added a Teardowns Resource Guide to the website. Information includes 'An Advocate's Guide,' 'What's Wrong with Teardowns: A Visual Analysis,' 'Teardowns in the News' and a place to post information about your community's experiences. Additional sections are being developed and will be added in coming months.

"Efforts to address the teardown issue continue at the local level as well. The Utah Heritage Foundation recently received a $5,000 grant from the Trust's Utah Preservation Initiative Fund for the research, writing, and publication of 'Celebrating Compatible Design in Salt Lake City.' This educational publication will include a history of the monster house phenomenon in the state and nation, information about developing compatible design standards, and a photographic gallery of featured homes that have received successful, compatible additions."