Fixing up housing and selling it to richer people is a new concept. It used to be you would build new things and clear out the old. Of course when we make legal systems that favor the status quo, suddenly it becomes a luxury prospect to live in the few good units of whats left since we aren’t allowing for any more. Historical significance arguments basically emerged in our society along with the very ordinances that prevented these same historical structures from ever being built again. There would be no reason to deem something historical and protect it if it was constantly being renewed as it is, after all.