WHO:                   

City of Brownsville
Main Street District Brownsville
HHM & Associates, Inc.

WHAT:            

The City of Brownsville is launching efforts to update its Historic Resources Survey.

The Historic Resources Survey, funded by the Texas Historical Commission, will be conducted by HHM & Associates, Inc. under the guidance of the City of Brownsville and Main Street District Brownsville.

Historic Resources Survey efforts will be three-fold: 

• Document all properties within the potential Downtown and West End Historic District;
• Document historic mid-century (1950-1970) resources within the previous 2000 survey boundary; and
• Document historic-age (Pre-1971) resources outside the previous 2000 survey boundary.

The Historic Resources Survey will have three major components – field documentation, historical research, and report preparation. Field documentation will be concentrated in the areas described above during the weeks of August 7–10 and 21–24, with additional field documentation taking place later this year.

While conducting fieldwork, teams of architectural historians and historians will be out on city streets taking photographs and documenting the architectural features of historic buildings in the downtown area.

All photographs will be taken from the public right-of-way, but the field survey team may approach building owners to ask questions about the history of their buildings. Residents are welcome to approach the field survey team to ask questions about the project or share interesting stories or facts regarding their building.

The survey and analysis process will result in preparation of an updated Historic Resources Survey Report, which will make recommendations for the designation of local historic landmarks and list historic properties in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

"I hope all downtown property owners and business owners can share what they know about the premises they occupy,” said Brownsville City Commissioner District 4 Ben Neece. “This is an important step in revitalizing downtown. I'd like to thank everyone, in advance, for their participation and cooperation."

WHEN:                

Tuesday, August 8, 2017 – Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Field survey teams will be available for media interviews from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, and Wednesday, August 9, 2017. 

WHERE:            

Downtown Brownsville

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