Project Description

Introduction

Los Angeles is taking a significant step to identify and protect its rich heritage by embarking on SurveyLA -- a citywide survey to identify and document historic resources representing significant themes in the city's history. While Los Angeles has over 900 Historic-Cultural Monuments (local landmarks) and 24 Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (Historic Districts), to date only 15% of the city has been surveyed. This leaves important resources at risk and developers and property owners frequently surprised or exasperated by eleventh-hour preservation efforts. SurveyLA will provide valuable information to City officials, homeowners, neighborhood associations, and preservation groups, and much greater up-front certainty for developers and property owners.

SurveyLA is partially funded by a $2.5 million grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust. Additionally, the Getty Conservation Institute, which has played a crucial leadership role in preparing detailed studies outlining the purpose, benefits, and best practices of a citywide survey, is providing significant technical and advisory support to the project. The project is coordinated by the Department of City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources.

SurveyLA marks a coming-of-age for historic preservation in Los Angeles. In the coming months, as the project progresses, you will be hearing more about the survey and ways to become involved. The Office of Historic Resources looks forward to collaborating with all segments of the Los Angeles community in building creative partnerships that will take full advantage of this exciting opportunity.

How will the survey be conducted?

The survey will cover the period from approximately 1865 to 1980 and include individual resources such as buildings, structures, objects, natural features and cultural landscapes as well as areas and districts (archaeological resources will be included in a future survey phase). Significant resources will reflect important themes in the city's growth and development in various areas including architecture, city planning, social history, ethnic heritage, politics, industry, transportation, commerce, entertainment, and others. 

SurveyLA is organized in two phases to be completed over an approximate six-year period -- the two-year Initiation Phase (2006 to 2009) and the three-year Implementation Phase (2009 through 2012). During the Initiation Phase all survey tools and methods will be developed and tested. Information about the survey will be disseminated to the public and key concerns and opportunities will be identified. During the Implementation Phase, after all the systems are in place, the field survey work will be conducted.   

The Initiation Phase, now in progess, includes the following activities:

Citywide Historic Context Statement (HCS): The HCS is a narrative document that will identify themes representing the multi-faceted history of Los Angeles and relate those themes to existing resources or "property types" that will be the focus of field survey efforts. The HCS will help to predict the location, type, quantity and quality of resources to be found in a specific theme and provide a structure to evaluate these resources. As development of the HCS continues and survey information is collected, this web site will provide a means to search for information on specific themes and resources related to those themes.    

Field Guide to Survey Evaluation: This survey tool is both a written manual and a custom-designed computerized GIS database that is used in the field by surveyors. Essentially it "translates" the HCS information into data fields. The Field Guide will help ensure that large survey teams apply consistent, objective evaluation criteria and standards across the entire city.

Inter-departmental coordination: Numerous City departments generate and utilize historic resource survey information, typically for a single purpose, without sharing this information with other agencies. The Office of Historic Resources is working with other agencies pursuing survey work to ensure that data collection methods and strategies are consistent with the citywide survey project.

Information Management upgrades and web site enhancements will provide detailed and user-friendly information on the historic resources throughout the city. SurveyLA will capture all City of Los Angeles survey data in a single, centralized location - the City's ZIMAS Geographic Information System. The Department of City Planning has already begun to incorporate existing historic resource data into ZIMAS to help ensure that sites of historic significance are not demolished without appropriate review. The survey database, which is in development, will also allow web users to query for detailed information on the City's historic resources.

Innovative Technologies for Field Work: SurveyLA utilizes cutting-edge information management technologies to conduct the field work including tablet PCs and digital cameras.

Community Outreach and Participation Program: The Office of Historic Resources has developed a comprehensive outreach program to elicit meaningful community input on the survey project. The program  considers multi-lingual needs, inclusion of traditionally underrepresented groups, and focuses on resources of social and cultural significance. This web site posts information on public meetings and opportunities for participation in SurveyLA. 

Pilot Surveys: The Initiation Phase of the project includes the completion of three pilot surveys during 2009 to test the methodology of the survey work to follow.

While the survey is proceeding on a very aggressive schedule, the Office of Historic Resources is counseling patience throughout the process. A comprehensive survey in a city the size of Los Angeles cannot be completed overnight. Los Angeles comprises 466 square miles and 880,000 separate legal parcels - an area larger than eight of the nation's largest cities combined. This web site will follow SurveyLA through its completion.