The purpose of the project is to complete the re-survey of the Cuyler-Brownville Historic District which began last year with a 2018 Historic Preservation Fund Grant. After the preservation consultant’s reconnaissance survey early this year, it became clear that the 2018 funds would not allow us to fully survey all buildings within the district that are 40 years old or older. The reconnaissance survey identified 975 resources within the district boundaries in need of survey (40 years old or older); with the current cash budget of $28,000 and the accepted consultant fee of $42.50 per resource we can only survey 659 of these 975 resources. This leaves 316 resources undocumented; the current preservation consultant will extend their contract with the City to survey the remaining resources at the same cost per resource for a cash total of $13,430. This survey has not been updated since 1997 and, as was discovered during some of the initial work of MPC staff and the preservation consultant, many of these resources have never been surveyed at all.

The MPC intends to continue to apply for additional grants in the future to supplement and expedite on-going survey work for all of Savannah’s historic resources but feel a phased project which focuses on the oldest surveys first is the best approach. Phase I of this project was completed in 2012-2013, through this grant process, and consisted of an historic resources survey of the Carver Village neighborhood. This survey was used, in part, to apply for National Register listing as an historic district, which has nearly been achieved. Phase II of this project was completed in 2015-2016, through this grant process, and consisted of an historic resources survey of the Victorian Historic District (re-survey of historic resources and initial survey of resources 40 years old or older). The Victorian District’s Historic Buildings Map has been updated to include another 69 contributing resources based on the results of this survey; it has also helped us identify a large number of excellent mid-century resources in need of protection. We have developed language for the New Zoning Ordinance, slated to be adopted later this year, that can protect these resources. Part III of this project is currently underway and consists of the survey of the first 659 resources 40 years old or older within the Cuyler-Brownville Historic District.

Completing this survey is critical to establishing a plan/strategy for the preservation of Cuyler-Brownville which is under enormous demolition pressure.

Approve

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