HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORKSHOP_Surveys_HistoricContexts_01_20240507
Historic Site Preservation Board
Workshop Series - 2024
Palm Springs
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May, June, and October 2024
Part 1: Historic Resource Surveys and Historic Contexts
- Overview, purpose, and definitions
Part 2: Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement
- Content, structure, and use
Part 3: Historic Resource Evaluations of Significance
- Applying the citywide context and city designation criteria
Three-Part Workshop Series:
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION SURVEYS
AND HISTORIC CONTEXTS
PART I
Palm Springs Historic Sites Preservation Board Workshop
May 2024
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Historic Site Preservation Board Members
City Historic Preservation Officer
City Council
Nomination Preparers
Property Owners
Historic resource surveys and historic contexts are preservation tools designed to facilitate an informed process for consistent decision making by…
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Together surveys and contexts are used to…
Identify
Categorize
Evaluate
Nominate
Designate
Manage
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“To be effective in protecting and managing heritage, knowing what heritage you have is essential to safeguarding it” Myers and Hansen 2024
Historic resource surveys are the foundation of historic preservation planning:
A survey is an activity carried out over a specific timeframe to systematically identify, record, and assess the significance of potential architectural, historic, and cultural resources
within a defined geographic area.
Initiated by government/public agencies tasked with managing historic resources in their jurisdiction and with enforcing preservation laws and policies
Ideally designed to feed information into an inventory – and ongoing record identifying and describing significant historic resources.
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A written technical document specific to field of historic preservation:
Identifies themes relating to important trends, patterns, and topics significant to the history and development history of an area
Identifies and describes historic resources types that relate to those themes
Provides consistent standards for evaluations of significance including comparative analysis
Inextricably tied to surveys
“Historic contexts are critical for understanding and protecting resources that give each community its character and sense of place”
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Developed following the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966:
National Park Service (NPS) established National Register program
National Register Bulletin 24: Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning, 1977, rev. 1985
Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Preservation, Planning, Identification, Evaluation, and Registration of Historic Resources,1983
FEDERAL SURVEY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
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States develop preservation programs and survey standards based on NPS standards and guidelines
Type of survey data collected similar in all states:
Name, location, constructions date(s), description, alterations, important persons and events, significance, photos, map
Standardized survey/data collection forms
California Office of Historic Preservation:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECORDING HISTORICAL RESOURCES
STATE SURVEYS STANDARDS/GUIDELINES
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1970s growing interest nationally in developing municipal preservation programs
National Historic Preservation Act amended in 1980
Certified Local Government Program (CLG) established to encourage local governments to directly participate in identification and preservation of historic properties in their jurisdictions
Survey program required for certification
Surveys supported through local preservation ordinances & plans
Federal grant funding for survey work beginning in the 1970s
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SURVEY PROGRAMS
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PALM SPRINGS LOCAL ORDINACE
On May 20, 1981, City Council adopted Ordinance 1140 that created the Historic Preservation program, Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and the review process for alterations.
In 1988, Historic Preservation combined zone was created to function as an overlay zone (Ordinance 1294)
In 2014, City Council adopted Ordinance 1840 which exempted Class 1 sites from parking requirements for new uses.
In 2014, City Council adopted Ordinance 1844 amending sections related to demolition and Class 3 Sites (defined as sites constructed prior to 1969).
In 2018, City Council adopted Ordinance 1966 for a temporary moratorium on demolition or substantial alterations to structures deemed a Class 3 Site.
In 2019, City Council adopted Ordinance 1970 amending procedures for alteration and demolition of historic buildings, criteria for designation, procedures for projects within the boundaries
of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in accordance to the adopted Land Use Contract, etc.
In 2020, City Council adopted Ordinance 2030 amending Section 8.05 for technical improvements following a 12-month review of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, including the 1978 demarcation
year and add HPO approval of demolition permits.
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Provide information to inform planning decisions
Develop and implement land use policies
Complete environmental review pursuant to national and state environmental laws (CEQA, Federal Section 106 review)
Develop adaptive reuse programs and incentives
Develop disaster preparedness and response programs
Enhance public appreciation and understanding of an area’s history
Facilitate designations of properties to local, state and national registers
HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY USES
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Keep pace with expanding definitions of heritage
Reliance on historic contexts
Wider range of resource types recorded – not just about buildings
Wider range of topics/themes – not just about architecture
Inclusive of social, ethnic, and cultural histories
New time periods covered: Modernism, Postwar Suburbanization
Completed by qualified, trained preservation professionals
Broad-based programs for public participation
CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON SURVEYS
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Contexts designed and formatted for use with digital surveys and inventories
Information readily accessible to a range of users
DIGITAL DATA COLLECTION
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Field inspections
Photography
Research
Historic Context(s)
Evaluation
Documentation
Community Outreach
Final Products
SURVEY COMPONENTS
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Field Surveys and Observations
Photographs
Location
Description
Significance
Research
Existing sources of information
Original research
Property specific history
Architect, Builder, Original Owner
Ownership History
Use History
Important associations
INTENSIVE-LEVEL DOCUMENTATION
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CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTATION STANDARDS
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Developed by the National Park Service
Designed to streamlines the nomination of properties related by theme to the National Register
Highly adaptable for historic resource surveys of all types, scales, and complexities
Approach can evaluate properties for significance under local, state, and national criteria
CONTEXTS AND THE MULTIPLE PROPERTY APPROACH
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Ensures a wide range of themes are represented by a survey
Provides a consistent framework for resource identification and evaluation
Provides a framework for comparative analysis
Ensures compliance with state and federal standards and guidelines
Can be expanded and updated over time; inform new surveys
Can be used by diverse agencies and organizations (local government, consultants, heritage organizations, property owners, consultants)
ADVANTAGES OF THE MPD APPROACH FOR SURVEYS
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Citywide historic resources survey of Los Angeles
Demonstration project to guide surveys worldwide
Replicable model for context-based surveys using the MPD approach
Nine major contexts/over 200 themes and subthemes
Covers the period from 1850-1980
SURVEYLA: A MODEL CONTEXT-BASED SURVEY
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Historic Context
Eligibility Standards
Evaluation Criteria
Significance Evaluation
Geographic Area
Period of Significance
Narrative Context
Associated Property Type(s)
CONTENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE APPROACH
Theme / Sub Theme
Associative qualities
Character-defining features
Integrity Aspects
National Criteria
Regional Criteria
Local Criteria
Description
Significance
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PALM SPRINGS SURVEYS AND CONTEXTS - OVERVIEW
First comprehensive historic resources survey in 1976
Citywide surveys undertaken in 1983 and 1987 resulted in the creation of a base list of potential architectural and historical resources throughout the city. Surveys were updated in
2001 and 2004.
In 2014, the City of Palm Springs became a Certified Local Government; maintaining and updating historic resources surveys of the built environment undertaken by qualified historic preservation
professionals is a requirement of that program.
The 2014-2016 citywide survey included the development of a comprehensive citywide historic context statement and survey update of buildings constructed through 1969.
2017 Ethnic Minorities chapter of the context statement published.
Available at:
Historic Resources Inventory & Context Statement | City of Palm Springs (palmspringsca.gov)
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SurveyLA addresses current perspectives on survey work
PALM SPRINGS SURVEYS AND CONTEXTS - OVERVIEW
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SurveyLA addresses current perspectives on survey work
Q & A
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