Page 6 - Brookings, SD Historic Preservation Plan

Plan Background
501 8th Street, also known as the
Fishback House, is individually listed
on the National Register of Historic
Places (W&Co, 2020)
414 and 416 Main Avenue, two
contributing properties in the
Commercial Historic District. (W&Co,
2020)
2 Brookings Historic Preservation Plan
Brookings has a well-established preservation program that enjoys
support from citizens and a variety of organizations. While the pro-
gram has been part of the community for decades, the City recogniz-
es it could be strengthened and expanded, as the program is a key
ingredient in community well-being and livability. Noteworthy land-
marks, such as the County Courthouse and Railroad Depot, along with
numerous National Register districts, symbolize the community’s
heritage. Some parks, sites and other structures are valued for their
historic significance.
In many parts of the city, entire neighborhoods maintain their histor-
ic character and provide places to live today while retaining a sense
of the past. Other older neighborhoods with traditional buildings
also contribute to the sense of place, even though they may not have
historic significance. These areas, both residential and commercial,
enhance the city’s quality of life.
Many historic resources are formally recognized as individual land-
marks and as contributors to historic districts. Others remain to be
identified as having historic significance and still others, while known
to be of historic value, have not been formally designated.
While historic resources are valued, many factors challenge their
preservation. Some properties may be altered in ways that diminish
their integrity. Others may be under pressure for demolition, some-
times for redevelopment and other times because of extensive deteri-
oration.
These challenges exist in part because some people may not value
their properties as historic resources. Others are unaware of the his-
toric significance of their buildings, or may lack the means to main-
tain them. In some cases, other objectives may appear to be in conflict
with preservation. Responding to these situations in strategic ways is
key to an effective preservation program.
While challenges will continue, this is a particularly exciting time of
opportunity for preservation in Brookings and around the country.
There is an increasing understanding of the roles preservation and
neighborhood conservation can play in sustainability and how it com-
plements many other community development objectives. New part-
nerships are forming in which a variety of groups promote historic
resources in their work programs. For example, health care providers
are promoting “Healthy Heritage” walks as part of their preventive
medicine strategies.
New technologies can also be used to make it easier to identify his-
toric resources, distribute information about proper stewardship,
and facilitate appropriate management. Linking historic resource
information and survey work to Geographic Information Systems
is an important tool many communities use. It makes historic and
potentially historic resource information available to a wide range of
users, enhances the understanding of historic properties and makes
the formal preservation system more understandable and predictable
to the community at large.