Page 78 - Reflect DSM (City of Des Moines, IA)
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Telling All Histories: The Potential of N2. Recommit to the survey and
Citywide Surveys research of potential resources
throughout Des Moines with the
In any city, many factors determine goal of creating a community-
what gets surveyed for the purposes led process that highlights
of historic preservation. These factors stories of underrepresented
might include large-scale infrastructure community groups and less-
projects, real estate developments, traditional historic resources.
or other potential threats to historic
resources, as well as citizen advocacy Goal Goal Goal
or particular funding opportunities. 1 2 3
The resulting surveys, while useful, are
often piecemeal, narrowly focused, a. Prioritize the research, survey and
and related to buildings and districts designation of sites, buildings,
that have accepted and tangible events, protests, festivals, places,
etc. that focus on stories of Black,
architectural merit or have traditional Indigenous, and People of Color
historic or cultural associations. What (BIPOC), members of the Lesbian,
these types of surveys fail to document is Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ+)
the full, diverse and intersecting histories community, houseless and immigrants
of the city, especially those not fully in Des Moines.
apparent in the built environment. b. Determine a methodology to directly
New and innovative approaches engage citizens in survey work
to historic surveys are beginning to to identify and protect resources
– tangible and intangible – that
address these shortcomings. Discover represent the complete history of
Denver and SurveyLA are excellent Des Moines. This methodology should
examples. Both utilize GIS mapping, focus on creating a continuous
mobile devices, and crowd-sourced community dialogue where the City
data to directly engage citizens in learns from community input.
naming the places they value. While c. Develop a systemized way of
they forfeit the granular, expert collecting information, emphasizing
resource assessment of traditional community input, and conducting
surveys, they succeed in identifying and research on important elements of
documenting diverse, lesser known, and the city to determine the potential
for local designation, recognition,
intangible assets. SurveyLA, the most and celebration in traditional or non-
comprehensive survey of any American traditional ways.
city, documented 880,000 land parcels.
Discover Denver has similar aspirations d. Partner with the Greater Public Art
Foundation and others to evaluate
but it has only just gotten underway. the impact of existing recognition
and designations.
These types of comprehensive, city-
wide surveys can be a key strategy in e. Develop and maintain an online
creating a more equitable and inclusive tracking tool to provide a visual
representation of the types of stories,
preservation program. By documenting histories, and resources that have
all histories, they lay the groundwork been highlighted through the survey
for deploying approaches that can and designation process.*
preserve all histories.
* Requires ongoing work.
72 DES MOINES Citywide Historic Preservation Plan
