Historic resources—buildings, districts, bridges, public art, landscapes, etc.—are structures and places that connect the past to the present. They not only enrich our built environment and sense of place, but provide perspectives on who we were and who we are--as individuals, diverse communities and as a society. They add to the many layers of our personal, cultural and civic identities. Historic preservation, in its broadest sense, is a collective endeavor that seeks to understand, protect and enhance these resources for ourselves and future generations.

The Bureau of Planning’s historic resources program works with citizens, businesses, property owners, public agencies and other community partners to bridge policy with action to protect and interpret our history and built heritage. We strive to provide the community with the tools and support needed to identify, document, interpret, preserve, and rehabilitate significant historic resources, and thereby improve the City’s quality of life. Recent projects have included inventorying historic resources, updating historic district documentation, creating new preservation zoning incentives and a demolition review process, and public education initiatives.