Page 60 - Corvallis, OR Historic Preservation Plan

Historic Preservation Plan

New Survey Techniques

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New technologies now allow data gathering and evaluation to occur
more efficiently in many communities, but have yet to be applied
comprehensively in Corvallis. The integration of future survey data
with the Geographic Information System (GIS) maintained by the City
will be useful in assisting with future planning efforts, especially with
current development pressures in neighborhoods surrounding the
University to identify key properties with historic significance that
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should be preserved. Survey information in GIS can also be combined
with other property information to enable new, creative manipulation
of data that can “predict” where historic structures may be located,
therefore allowing data gathering and evaluation to occur more
efficiently. It can also provide information that helps with broader
sustainability and neighborhood planning work by identifying groups
of historic structures.

% . GIS also provides opportunities for property owners to upload
V information about their property to a website to share data with
- the community. This can ensure up-to-date documentation of a
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community’s historic resources.

Some communities are also using a tiered survey system of classifying
First Presbyterian Church the significance of properties that indicates varying levels of integrity
and significance for historic structures. A tiered survey can be linked
to a variety of planning objectives, or can be calibrated to fit differing
benefits and incentives, or review and permitting processes.

City and County Resource Identification

and GIS

In recent years, the community’s GIS has emerged as an important tool
in developing an understanding of where historic structures may be
located and how they relate to other planning factors. GIS is widely
used in many departments and thus offers the capability of combining
information from individual disciplines, including preservation, with
other community programs.

To further enhance the City’s understanding of potential historic
resources, data can be plotted to yield a comprehensive look at
development patterns relevant to the city’s history. This data provides
a preview of properties that may become historic and places earlier
historic structures into perspective.

54 City of Corvallis