Page 53 - Corvallis, OR Historic Preservation Plan

Historic Preservation Plan

Historic Themes and Contexts f * V

Historic contexts are narratives that group information related to ,?«1
existing historic structures based on themes, specific time periods
or geographic areas. The relative importance of an individual historic vi.Krtr
structure can be better understood by determining how it relates to
these historic contexts. An individual historic structure may relate I
to more than one of these contexts. Several themes related to the
development of Corvallis are briefly summarized on pages 17-27. A
historic context statement was created in 1993, which provided the Arnold House
basis of the information about the city’s history and development
contained in this report.

Historic Properties

A historic resource can be a building, site, district, structure or object.
Some key historic resource types found in Corvallis are summarized on
page 28.

Surveys

A survey identifies which properties have historic or archeological
significance, and those that do not. A reconnaissance level survey
(RLS) is a light inspection of an area’s resources, while an intensive
level survey (ILS) provides a closer look at the historic resources in an
area. In conducting a survey, professionals use adopted criteria for
determining significance. All surveys should meet the Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards, but also may include additional information that
is not required by the National Park Service (NPS), as supplemental
data.

The survey process includes a field inspection, followed by a period of
collecting historic information about the physical and cultural history of
the property and documenting it in photographs, drawings and maps.
While a survey serves as a basis for determining eligibility as a historic
resource, it can provide important information to use during design
review. As such, the survey should also define the key characteristics
of historic structures that should be preserved.

Existing Historic Surveys
Existing surveys cover different areas within the city. They include a
survey of more than 2,300 buildings in 13 neighborhoods. Conducted
by more than 60 volunteers, these surveys need further evaluation to
confirm the findings and determine the potential for designation.

A survey of buildings from 1st – 9th Streets in downtown Corvallis has
been completed, but few historic structures have been designated
there. Furthermore, few properties have been designated since the
1980s.

Final: November 15, 2017 47