Historic Preservation Plan, City of Redmond, Oregon

Preservation Solutions LLC

From introduction: "Redmond’s heritage dates back to the first years of the 20th century when major irrigation projects inspired homesteaders to take advantage of relatively inexpensive land and promised agricultural opportunities. Today, Redmond is a city of over 27,000 residents that has experienced meteoric growth in the last two decades – with a more than 280 percent increase in population since 1990. With continued pressure for growth and infill development in Redmond, it is important that the City ensure that it effectively manages and balances the maintenance of its historic areas in concert with new development. When integrated into the planning process and targeted at identifiable areas, historic preservation provides a level of certainty and permanence that is necessary to attract investment. Preserved commercial business areas and residential neighborhoods create stability of population, a greater tax base, and less drain on City services. To aid Redmond’s development and transformation in the future, the City has chosen to continue to and enhance its public policy options of considering historic preservation in City actions. Buildings and structures from the past – early farmhouses and bungalows, institutional and commercial buildings – provide tangible links to Redmond’s rich history for residents and visitors today. The solid street wall of historic commercial buildings downtown provides opportunities for promoting economic development and heritage tourism. Not only do Redmond’s citizens value these indications of the past, but City planning and policy documents recognize the importance of the assets that are Redmond’s historic resources as economic anchors in the community. PURPOSE OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN: The Historic Preservation Plan outlines the essential components for a viable preservation program as an integral part of Redmond’s community planning. The Plan is a guiding document that identifies the community’s priorities for the preservation of historic resources and sets forth related goals, policies, and action steps toward their implementation. It will be used by the City and its preservation partners to guide and monitor preservation efforts in the community. Businesses, property owners, and members of the general public may also use the Plan to learn about the program and the status of preservation efforts. Preservation is a part of many community interests, including housing, sustainability, livability and economic development; therefore, the Plan approaches historic preservation as an integral element of community development. It seeks to balance broader community objectives with its core mission of retaining cultural resources. It touches on many subjects that appear in other City planning documents while presenting additional program-specific actions related to the components of a complete preservation program." Project funding was provided in part by a 2014 Historic Preservation Fund grant to City of Redmond (project number OR-14-16) administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P14AF00096) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Redmond, Oregon is a Certified Local Government.

Historic Preservation Plan, City of Redmond, Oregon

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