Across the country, historic buildings are draining public resources while providing nothing in return. Local governments spend money securing, insuring, and minimally maintaining abandoned structures that generate no revenue and serve no public function. At a time when the nation is deeply in debt, this is not just inefficient—it is irresponsible. This petition calls for allowing abandoned historic buildings to be temporarily repurposed as Spirit Halloween stores, turning long-term money sinks into short-term sources of revenue.

Spirit Halloween’s business model is built around activating unused space quickly and at low cost. Applying that model to historic buildings would generate lease income, sales tax revenue, and seasonal jobs without requiring taxpayers to fund full restorations. Instead of costing cities money year after year, these buildings would begin paying for themselves. Even temporary commercial use offsets security costs, reduces vandalism, and lowers the long-term expense of neglect-driven structural damage.

There is also a broader economic ripple effect. High-traffic seasonal stores bring foot traffic to struggling downtowns, benefiting nearby restaurants and small businesses. Opening these buildings—even temporarily—signals that they are economically viable, which can attract future private investment. In contrast, leaving them abandoned guarantees continued depreciation and rising public costs. In fiscal terms, adaptive reuse is a hedge against decay.

Signing this petition is a vote for economic realism. If we truly care about historic preservation and responsible budgeting, we cannot afford to let valuable real estate sit idle while public debt grows. Temporary reuse does not erase history; it prevents it from becoming a permanent liability. Let’s stop paying for emptiness and start generating value—even if it comes wrapped in orange banners and animatronic ghosts.