Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

The SHPO reviews a varity of properties and projects, ranging from housing to accessibility to new additions. Property types include historic buildings, bridges, parks, canals, monuments, and archeological sites. SHPO review is triggered through its state and federal programs, such as historic preservation environmental review or various incentive programs. Projects are evaluated using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The standards promote the retention of historic features and materials and offer guidance on specific preservation treatments and approaches. The goal of the standards is to ensure the long term protection of historic properties. The following general preservation principles should be considered when planning to do work on a historic property.

These preservation principles are:

• Continue a property in the use for which it was originally intended, or choose new uses that minimize changes to character-defining features.
• Retain distinguishing qualities and characteristics.
• Repair existing features, materials and finishes. If deteriorated, replace in-kind.
• Be authentic: if a feature is missing, use historic documentation to guide replacement.
• Respect the evolution of historic changes, fashion, taste and use.
• Do not use treatments that damage historic materials.
• New construction should not destroy historic features or materials, nor alter historic character.
• Additions and new work should be compatible with the historic property.

Technical Preservation Guidance

• Preservation Guidance, Buildings and Structures: Exteriors
  • Roofs
  • Masonry: Cleaning, Repointing and Repair
  • Cladding and Siding
  • Windows
  • Storefronts
  • Rooftop Additions
  • Parking Additions
  • Demolition
• Preservation Guidance, Buildings and Structures: Interiors
  • Floorplans
  • Design Features, Materials and Finishes
  • New Interior Construction and Related Demolition
• Project Documentation
  • Photographs
  • Plans
  • Narrative
• Preservation Guidance: Historic Landscapes
  • Topography
  • Vegetation
  • Circulation
  • Buildings and Structures
  • Site Furnishings and Objects
  • Spatial Organization and Land Patterns

Preservation Briefs

Technical information on a variety of topics. All of the links are directed to the National Register site. View a list of Preservation Briefs