City of Erie Launches Citywide Historic Resources Survey

The City of Erie has launched a baseline historic resources survey to help preserve vital aspects of the city's history. 

With the City of Erie Historic Preservation Plan in place, this survey will help preserve the city's history. 

“We are fortunate to live in a city with a rich, deep, and colorful history. It is critically important to record our community’s vibrant history and diverse culture so future generations understand the foundation of our amazing city as we progress and grow," said City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember. 

The goals of the Citywide Historic Resources Survey (CHRS) project include: 

• Identifying and documenting important historic and cultural resources
• Identifying and documenting historic resources and structures missing from the existing inventory — such as properties that have reached the 50-year mark since the last survey was completed
• Identifying and documenting significant cultural resources related to Erie’s diverse
  heritage — such as cultural, built, or land-based resources that have been traditionally overlooked
• Using community outreach to uncover cultural heritage and history and to promote and educate the public on the importance of historic preservation

The CHRS project has three main parts: 

• Phase 1 asks the public to participate in two ways: 1) by visiting an online “Story-map” aimed at
  sharing unique histories and cultures that have shaped Erie, and 2) visiting the “map our history”
  table on select days at City Hall and Hagen History Center.
• Phases 2-3 are completed by consultant Environmental Design & Research, Landscape
  Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services (EDR) and will include background historic
  research, field-based architectural surveys from public rights-of-way, and a final report of
  findings. These phases will be completed by the professional research and field-based survey
  team and will cover all city parcels with structures, sites, objects, and districts 50 years of age
  and older. The survey team will be working in public rights-of-way (sidewalk, street edge) and
  will be digitally collecting visual and historic information pertinent to the survey. No personal
  information is being collected; only information about structures, sites, objects, and districts that
  are 50 years of age and older

According to the city, the ultimate goal is to have the entire City of Erie filed-surveyed for historic resources within the next five years. 

The results will help position the city for forthcoming grant opportunities.