Worth Preserving with Kate Wood

In this episode of PreserveCast, host Nick Redding sits down with Kate Wood, principal of Worth Preserving and a historic rehabilitation strategist, to explore her journey from a childhood spent in a 1927 Tudor revival house in New Jersey to becoming a leading advocate for residential historic preservation. Kate recounts how a Newsweek magazine ad featuring Lyndhurst sparked her passion for preservation at age 17, leading her to study archaeology and anthropology before earning a joint degree in historic preservation and urban planning from Columbia University. Her career began in community advocacy with Landmark West in New York City, where she championed the preservation of the Upper West Side’s 3,000+ landmarks. After nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership, she transitioned to founding her own firm, Worth Preserving, where she now serves as a strategic guide for homeowners restoring historic homes—offering not just design insight but emotional and practical support. She emphasizes the importance of 'phase zero' planning, identifying character-defining features, and balancing preservation with modern functionality. A key part of her mission includes using social media as a tool for education and community-building, sharing authentic, personable content that demystifies preservation for the public. She’s also developing an accessible online curriculum to empower homeowners with foundational knowledge, aiming to create a cultural shift toward restoration over replacement. Her current flagship project—a 19th-century train depot in Copaque, New York—will be converted into income-producing residential units using federal and state tax credits, showcasing how preservation can be both economically viable and historically meaningful.