Cultural resource surveys are fundamental to documenting, analyzing and ultimately defining the qualities and significance of a place, be it a park, neighborhood, or whole town. Sometimes they represent the first step in creating a preservation plan or historic district. At other times they are a means to reassess an existing district’s boundaries, themes, or period of significance. This is particularly important as the field moves to address longstanding inequities around what merits preservation. In this class, Marissa discusses how to carry out a meaningful cultural resource survey from structuring one to engaging the local community, collecting and interpreting data, and crafting a set of findings that builds towards preservation action.
Marissa Marvelli is an independent historic preservation consultant who has completed a wide range of surveys, National Register nominations, and historic tax credit projects. Her 2021-2022 reconnaissance-level resource survey of El Barrio/East Harlem South has garnered two state-wide preservation awards.
