Introduction

Here you will find descriptions of the more common types of reports required for such procedures as demolition, improvements, landmarking and promotion of historic properties. Regulations differ from place to place, but some version of the reports listed below is typically required for historic assessments in California. As a qualified historian I have written hundreds of assessments for properties in a range of functions, styles and dates, usually in the form of the reports outlined below.

In addition to the types of reports listed below, I have written or contributed to such studies as Historical Resource Technical Reports (HRTRs); Historical Resources Evaluation Reports (HRERs); certificates of compliance and ineligibility; and a wide variety of Memoranda for the Record (MFRs) including design reviews. Go here for an HRER for which I authored the architectural history content. Go here for an MFR that I wrote to report on recent site improvements.

DPR Series 523 Form

The “DPR 523 Series form” is the commonly-accepted format created by the state of California Department of Parks and Recreation for identifying, documenting, and evaluating cultural resources, including buildings. DPR 523 forms generally support the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The two basic levels of DPR survey are the brief reconnaissance survey and the far more detailed intensive assessment.

A DPR 523A (Primary Record) captures basic information about a cultural resource. It includes such things as location data, a property description, and a significance evaluation including status code indicating its eligibility (or lack of eligibility) for national, state and local historic registers.

A DPR 523B (Building, Structure, and Object Record) is a continuation sheet providing such things as:

• a detailed description of the resource (design, materials, condition, size, and setting);
• current photographs of the building and site, plus a sketch map;
• a scholarly account, with full citations, of the building’s chronology, based on a range of written and visual sources (e.g. building permits, historic aerials, newspapers, census data and city directories), including all known information about architects, builders, and owners, as well as the dates of construction and alterations;
• an evaluation of the property’s historical or architectural significance based on specific criteria (e.g., integrity, period of significance).

In many jurisdictions a DPR assessment is essential for any project seeking to ensure the proper protection and assessment of a building or other historic resource.

Go here for one of the dozens of intensive DPRs that I wrote for properties in Sierra Madre.

Historic Resource Assessment Report (HRAR)

An HRAR evaluates the historical, architectural, or cultural significance of a property or area. This type of report is commonly required for compliance with environmental review laws and historic preservation requirements. The main components of an HRAR include:

• property history and development timeline
• illustrated description of buildings on the property
• historical context and significance evaluation
• assessment against federal, state and local significance criteria, including 7-part integrity evaluation

The report might also include impact assessment if alterations are proposed, and recommendations for treatment or mitigation.

Go here for an HRAR that I authored, leading to the presrvation of the 1929 Swanson & Peterson daylight factory in Pasadena.

Mills Act Application

Established in 1972, the Mills Act Program offers substantial tax relief to owners of qualified historic properties in California, provided they agree to restore and maintain the property. The first step in a Mills Act application is obtaining historic designation on the local level. The next step is providing the local regulatory authorities with a Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Maintenance Plan. This generally includes a schedule of proposed maintenance and improvements, which can be spread over a 10-year period. You will also need to provide supporting documentation, such as photographs, drawings and cost estimates.

Go here for a successful Mills Act nomination written by me (Appendix F), and for a workplan that I worked on with the client (Appendix G), along with related documents relating to a house in the City of Sierra Madre. Bear in mind that the submission process will look different in every locality.

Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Report

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) was established in 1933 to create a public archive of America’s architectural heritage, consisting of measured drawings, historical reports, and large-format black & white photographs.

Go here for a long-form HABS report that I authored in 2022, complete with a keymap, photos and photolog.

Historic Context Statement

A historic context statement analyzes the historical development of a community according to guidelines developed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP). Organized by theme, place, and time, these reports link historic properties to important historic trends, providing a framework for determining the historical significance of a property and its eligibility for historic listing or designation. A historic context statement generally includes a field survey of key cultural resources, which are organized according to period and style.

Go here for a Historic Context Statement for which I was the lead historian.

More Informal Building Histories

Owners, sellers, buyers and enthusiasts of historic properties are naturally interested in knowing the story of a historic property. Whether the outcome is a marketing tool or a beautifully-formatted gift, there is value in reading an accessible and scholarly history of a building’s construction, style, and occupants, as well as the history of the surrounding neighborhood. I provide these reports complete with professional photographs of buildings in their current state, and with reproductions of archival material including building permits, newspaper articles, historic maps and photographs.