Borough of Beaver Historic Preservation Plan

Wise, Robert

Executive Summary: "The goals outlined in the Borough of Beaver Historic Preservation Plan (the Plan) are designed to protect, promote, and preserve Beaver: its historic resources, 'small-town' neighborhood setting, thriving business district and property values. Properly-developed and managed historic preservation programs have proven, in communities across the nation, to do just that. Over the last 25 years, Beaver has developed its own highly successful preservation program. It is established a historic district, a preservation ordinance, and recognized the importance of historic preservation in its comprehensive planning. This Plan builds on these achievements - based on strong community input and an assessment of needs - by means of carefully articulated goals and an implementation process to meet these goals. The goals are: 1) Preserve & Protect the Historic Character of the Borough; 2) Increase Public Awareness of Beaver's History and Historic Resources; 3) Maximize Economic Benefits from Beaver's Historic Preservation Program; and 4) Identify Funding Needs and Sources. The Plan was developed in response to the construction of the Shell Appalachia ethane cracker plant located across the Ohio River from Beaver. Recognizing the historic significance of Beaver and the possible adverse effects of the plant, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) in conjunction with the Borough of Beaver initiated the project. Shell Appalachia provided funding. Created in 2018, the plan has been prepared as a 'best practices' document that augments Beaver's existing preservation activities by strengthening its current comprehensive Plan. The plan offers options and outlines tools and methods to protect Beaver's historic resources and setting by focusing on aspirational goals and practical strategies. In addition, a new design component - Design Guidelines created specifically for Beaver (developed as part of this plan), has been written in a manner meant for a wide audience to understand, reference and implement. The is based on a series of public meetings, historic surveys, and poll taken in the community in 2017 and 2018. ...The preservation of historic resources is nothing new to Beaver. Its residents, property owners, local government and non-governmental organizations such as the Beaver Area Heritage Foundation (BAHF) have successfully collaborated with the PA SHPO for a quarter century to educate the public and protect the community's historic character. The Plan is intended to augment, enhance and guide these ongoing efforts into the future. Finally, and as stated above, the plan and its accompanying Design Guidelines are meant to implement change for the betterment of the community by protecting, promoting and preserving Beaver's historic resources, its 'small-town' neighborhood setting, thriving business district, and property values." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, Historical and Museum Commission, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P20AF00043).

Borough of Beaver Historic Preservation Plan

Collections