Project Objectives
In 2000, the Getty Conservation Institute undertook an assessment of the potential for a comprehensive, citywide historic resource survey in the City of Los Angeles. Published in 2001, the Los Angeles Historic Resource Survey Assessment Project: Summary Report revealed that only 15 percent of the city had previously been surveyed: that there was support from city government, neighborhoods, the business community and preservationists for having reliable information on the city's historic resources: and that there was strong momentum for adaptive reuse, neighborhood conservation, and cultural tourism throughout the city.

In 2002, GCI began working in a cooperative relationship with the City of Los Angeles and civic stakeholders to develop research on historic resource survey methods and on the use of a survey as part of the city's cultural heritage and community development efforts. Concurrently the city government addressed with municipal departments, the value of a historic resource survey and the issues of how a survey could be integrated in city goals and programs.

The objectives of the Los Angeles Historic Resource Survey Project are:

• to document the community, cultural, and economic benefits of a comprehensive, citywide historic resource survey;
• to develop a professional survey methodology through research of key survey methods and management issues (survey data will be used for multiple purposes including historic preservation, education, community and economic development);
• to serve as an information resource regarding historic resource survey methods and management issues for city government, and the private sector;
• to collaborate with the city and stakeholders in testing survey methods;
• to publish information regarding survey practice and incentives for historic preservation;
• to share information on best practices associated with citywide surveys with the conservation community and interested stakeholders.

Last updated: May 2007