Intensive Level Architectural and Historical Survey and Evaluation Project: Newton Downtown Commercial District

AKAY Consulting; McDowell, Alexa

From project summary: "The present Certified Local Government (CLG) grant-funded intensive level survey and evaluation of the Newton downtown came out of a CLG grant-funded Planning for Preservation project completed in 2009-2010. The planning project resulted in the preliminary development of applicable historical contexts and the identification of resources bearing the potential for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The project also involved an education component aimed at providing an introduction to survey and evaluation methods. As an exercise in applying the information gained during one workshop, members of the Newton Historic Preservation Commission took on the survey and evaluation of a select group of resources located in the Newton downtown. That exercise was the seed of the present intensive level survey and evaluation of Downtown Newton. The primary intent of the intensive level survey and evaluation of the Newton downtown (covering approximately 25-acres) was to collect the information necessary to make a determination regarding the eligibility of the downtown to the National Register of Historic Places. To that end, the project involved two major work elements, 1) the completion of Iowa Site Inventory Forms for 86 buildings, which was the primary responsibility of the HPC and volunteers, and 2) the development of this Project Report. In the process of completing the inventories, the HPC was deeply involved in historical research. Their effort to locate historic images and develop property histories was exhaustive and yielded material not just for the present project, but also for many such others that may follow. Such projects as the intensive level survey and evaluation always have secondary goals, one of which is gaining or increasing the skills of the HPC and the public to assist them in their task of preserving the historic resources of their community. As a relatively new CLG, this is the first intensive level survey completed by the Newton HPC, so the process of completing Iowa Site Inventory forms was a learning experience. A workshop held near the onset of the project focused on a review of the process of survey and evaluation. Through the summer and early winter, the monthly HPC meetings were used by the consultant and the commission to establish the project plan, monitor progress, address questions about specific building evaluations, troubleshoot communications, etc... The result of this effort was the completion of 84 Iowa Site Inventory forms, the development of this Project Report and the recommendation that the Newton Downtown Historic District is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places." Project funding was provided in part by a 2011 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Newton (project number IA-11-057) administered by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 19-11-31922) administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Newton, Iowa is a Certified Local Government.

Intensive Level Architectural and Historical Survey and Evaluation Project: Newton Downtown Commercial District

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