The Gist

We’re at an important moment in our organization’s history. After extensive consideration and discussion, the Board has made a strategic decision to sell the Heyward House and reinvest the proceeds into a permanent, mission-restricted trust.

This decision is rooted in one core idea: we can have greater impact by focusing on preservation, education, and advocacy rather than property ownership.

Why This Decision

For years, the Heyward House has been central to our identity. But it also requires significant resources—financial, operational, and human—to maintain.

By transitioning away from ownership, we:

• Reduce long-term financial uncertainty

• Free up resources for mission-driven work

• Position the organization for long-range sustainability

We’ve saved this house, it’s time for us to move to the next undertaking. Most importantly, we can extend our impact beyond a single site to the broader community and region.

What Happens Next

We are working with a responsible buyer who has made a commitment to:

• Prioritizing preservation of the historic building and site

• Abiding by legal protections, easements, and covenants

• Ensuring the property’s historic character is respected

The proceeds will be placed into a trust that will provide ongoing funding for:

• Preservation initiatives

• Educational programming

• Advocacy efforts

Our programs will continue throughout this transition.                                                         

Reassurance

We want to be clear, this is not a step back from preservation—it is a step forward.

We are transforming how we fulfill our mission so that we can:

• Protect more places

• Reach more people

• Influence more decisions that affect historic resources

In Closing

We know this is a significant change. Our goal is to move forward together—thoughtfully, transparently, and with a shared commitment to preservation.