1984-066 - ARCHITEXAS proposal for architectural services

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Federal Register / Vol. 40, No. 190 / Thursday, September 29, 1983 f Notices 44719 should be identified. In most can. a range of knowlegeable professionals drawn from the preservation, planning and academic communities will be available to assist in defining contexts and in identifying sources of information. In other cases, however, development of historic contexts may occur in areas whose history or prehistory has not been extensively studied. In these situations, broad general historic contexts should be initially identified using available literature and expertise, with the expectation that the contexts will be revised and subdivided in the future as primary source research and field survey are conducted. It is also important to identify such sources of information as existing planning data, which is needed to establish goals for identification, evaluation, and treatment, and to identify factors that will affect attainment of those goals. The same approach for obtaining information is not necessarily desirable for all historic contexts. Information should not be gathered without first considering its relative importance to the historic context, the cost and time involved, and the expertise inquired to obtain it. In many cases, for example, published sources may he used in writing initial definitions of historic contexts: archival research or field work may be needed for subsequent activities. b. Assessing information.- All information should be reviewed to identify bias in historic perspective„ methodological approach, or area of coverage. For example, field surveys for archeological sites may have ignored historic archelolghal sites, or county land use plans may have emphasized only development goals. 3. Synthesize information The information collection and analysis results in a written narrative of the historic context. This narrative provides a detailed synthesis of the data that have been collected and analyzed. The narrative covers the history of the area from the chosen perspective and identifies important patterns, events, persons or cultural values. In the process of identifying the important patterns, one should consider: a. Trends in area settlement and development, if relevant: b. Aesthetic and artistic values embodied in architecture, construction technology or craftsmanship; c. Research values or problems relevant to the historic context; social and physical sciences and humanities; and cultural interests of local communities; and d. Intangible cultural values of ethn. groups and native American peoples. 4. Define property types A property type is a grouping of individual properties bused on shared physical or associative characteristics. property types link the ideas incorporated in the theoretical historic context with actual historic properties that illustrate those ideas. Property types defined for each historic context should be directly related to the conceptual basis of the historic context. Property types defined for the historic context "Coal Mining in Northeastern Pennsylvania. 1600.1930" might include coal extraction and processing complexes; railroad and canal transportation systems; commercial districts; mine workers' housing; churches, social clubs and other community facilities reflecting the ethnic origins of workers; and residences and other properties associated with mine owners and other industrialists. a. Identify property types: The narrative should discuss the kinds of properties expected within the geographical limits of the context and group them into those property types most useful in representing important historic trends. Generally, property types should be defined after the historic: context hits been defined. property types to common usage ( "Queen Anne houses," "mill buildings." or "stratified sites ") should 1101 be adopted without first verifying their relevance to the historic contexts being used. b. Characterize the locationol patterns of property types: Generalizations about where particular types of properties are likely to be found can serve as a guide for identification and treatment. Generalizations about the distribution of archeological properties are frequently used. The distribution of other historic properties often can be estimated based on recognizable historical, environmental or cultural factors that determined their location. Locational patterns of property types should be based upon models that have an explicit theoretical or historical basis and cult be tested in the field. The model may be the product of historical research and analysis ( "Prior to widespread use of steam power, milts were; located on rivers and strearns able to produce water power" or "plantation houses in the Mississippi Black Bell were located on sandy clay knolls "), or it may result from sampling techniques. Often the results of statistically valid sample surveys can be used to describe the locational patterns of a representative portion of properties belonging to a particular property type. Other surveys can also provide a basis For su�;gusting locational patterns if a diversity of historic properties was recorded and a variety of environmental zones was inspected. It is likely that the identification of locational patterns will conic from a combination of these sources. Expected or predicted locational patterns of property types- - should be developed with a provision made for their verification. c. Characterize the current condition of property types: The expected condition of property types should be evaluated to assist in the development of identification, evaluation and - treatment strategies, and to help define physical integrity thresholds for various property types. The following should be assessed for each property type: (1) Inherent characteristics of a property type that either contribute to or detract from its physical preservation. For example, a property type commonly constructed of fragile materials is more likely to be deteriorated than a property type constructed of durable materials; stnmtures whose historic function or design limits the potential for alternative uses (water towers) are less likely to be reused than structures whose design allows a wider variety of other uses (commer(ial buildings or warehouses). (2) Aspects of the social and natural environment that may affect the preservation or visibility of the property type. For cxnrnple, community values placed on certain types of properties (churches, historic cemeteries) may result In their maintenance while the need to reuse valuable materials may stimulate the disappearance of properties like abandoned houses and barns. It may be most efficient to estimate of the condition of properly types based on professional knowledge of existing properties and field test these estimates using a small sample of properties _ representative of each type. 5, identify information needs Filling gaps in information is an important element of the preservation plan designed for each historic context Statements of the information needed should be as specific as possible, focusing on the information needed, the historic context and property types it applies lo, and why the information is needed to perform identification, evaluation, or treatment activities. Developing Goals for a Historic Context Developing Goals _ A goal is a statement of preferred preservation activities, which is