Georgia Mountains
Regional Development Center

Serving the Communities of Georgia Mountains since 1962

•  Banks • Dawson • Forsyth • Franklin • Habersham • Hall • Hart • Lumpkin • Rabun • Stephens • Towns • Union • White •

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Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation Services are a regular feature of the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center. These services are designed to assist local communities with efforts to preserve, restore, rehabilitate, and revitalize the regions irreplaceable historic built environment.  As part of general demand and a contract with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR), the GMRDC provides assistance with historic resource identification, preparing nominations for the National Register of Historic Places, reviewing the potential impacts to historic resources from proposed developments, working to help revitalize downtowns and assisting communities with Historic Preservation Committees and historic societies. 

Historic/Cultural Resource Surveys

Since 1966, the Georgia has conducted an ongoing survey of historic sites within her cities and counties. Georgia’s Historic Resources Inventory serves as a permanent written and photographic record of all known historic buildings, structures, and sites in the state. The data collected and recorded for the survey provides the foundation for other programs, such as the National Register program and the Main Street program.  The survey also provides data used for the publication of local architectural and cultural histories, for comparison in evaluating eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places, and for the development of preservation planning documents. The comprehensive survey has produced information on a multitude of buildings in the Northeast Georgia Mountains, and continues to do so when funding is available. This information has been coded and is stored in a computer database at the Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Development Centers Historic Preservation Planner serves as the local contact for requests and implementation of historic resource surveys.  In conjunction with the FIND IT! Program, based out of the University of Georgia’s School of Environmental Design, local county and city governments can adequately update their current inventories for the establishment of historic districts, heritage tourism, downtown revitalization, Income Tax incentives, grants-in-aid, and the protection of historic natural view sheds.

For further information please contact Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center’s Historic Preservation Planner at (770) 538-2618, or at cwright@gmrdc.org.

A historic district in Georgia is a group of buildings, properties or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided into two categories, contributing and non-contributing. Districts greatly vary in size, some having hundreds of structures while others have just a few.

The U.S. federal government designates historic districts through the United States Department of the Interior, under the auspices of the National Park Service. Federally designated historic districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Georgia Historic Districts follow similar criteria and have can either have no restrictions on property owners or they can require strict adherence to historic rehabilitation standards. The local historic district offers, by far, the most legal protection for historic properties because most land use decisions are made at the local level. Local districts are generally administered by the county or municipal government.

Historic districts are key in the protection of integrity of the Northeast Georgia Mountains.  Whether protecting the natural beauty of a valley and the historic resources that reside within it,  downtown commercial districts or residential neighborhoods, this protection can strengthen community ties and provide visitors with a unique appreciation for the region, its resources and its people.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center’s Historic Preservation Planner is on hand to assist local governments with the establishment, protection, and interpretation of local historic resources.  If your would like to learn more on how historic districts can revitalize your community please contact the Historic Preservation Planner today.

Historic Preservation is an important tool in community development.  Protective guidelines help to insure that your city and county retain the charm and character that will maintain or improve the quality of life as well as bolster their appeal as prime tourist destinations.  Whether you are rehabilitating a building for a new use or restoring a building for historic interpretation, making the right decisions is an important part of any project. The Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center’s Historic Preservation Planner is here to help make your goals a success. Email your questions to cwright@gmrdc.org.

Historic Preservation Planning requires not only an understanding of the present condition of building stock found within the communities of the Georgia Mountain Region but also their architectural origins and landscaped settings.  Whether restoring a façade of a downtown commercial building or initiating a streetscape plan through a historical neighborhood, our Historic Preservation Planner is fully trained in producing the documents you’ll need to effectively begin your next project.  Call and set up an appointment today.

Grants-In-Aid Consultation

The protection and restoration of historic properties within the Georgia Mountains Region takes considerable amount of planning.  The Historic Preservation Planner can assist you in finding the funding resources you’ll need to help make the continued use of your community’s historical buildings a viable alternative to demolition and redevelopment. For an introduction to current funding opportunities for your project, please consult the links below. 

The Nation Trust for Historic Preservation

Georgia Tax Incentive Programs

Federal Tax Incentive Programs

For questions regarding local concerns or  local projects please contact Chip Wright, Historic Preservation Planner, Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center at cwright@gmrdc.org or call (770)538-2618.

Would you like to learn more on how Historic Preservation can benefit your community?  If so, the Historic Preservation Planner can explain how.  Choose from a topic below or request a custom topic that best suits your needs. 

• Economics of Preservation

• Historic Districts as Community Protection

• Recognizing Historic Architecture and Its Importance Within the Community

• Historic Restoration, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction - How They Work

• The Importance of Historic Resource Surveys

• Historic Preservation: An Introduction to Local Contractors  

• Increasing Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings

• Historic Landscape Protection and Revitalization

Our workshops and lectures are designed with community involvement in mind.  Contact the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center today to schedule an event or to find out more, (770) 538-2618 or cwright@gmrdc.org

Section 106 FAQ

What is Section 106 review? This term refers to the Federal review process designed to ensure that historic properties are considered during Federal project planning and execution. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent Federal agency, together with the State Historic Preservation Office, administers the review process.

Who established Section 106? The Congress did, as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA). NHPA, strengthened and expanded by several subsequent amendments, today has become the cornerstone of this country's historic preservation policy.

Why was Section 106 created? NHPA was enacted because of public concern that so many of our Nation's historic resources were not receiving adequate attention as the Government sponsored much-needed public works projects. In the 1960s, Federal preservation law applied only to a handful of nationally significant properties, and Congress recognized that new legislation was needed to protect the many other historic properties that were being harmed by Federal activities.

What does NHPA say? Section 106 of NHPA requires that every Federal agency "take into account" how each of its undertakings could affect historic properties. An agency must also afford the Council a reasonable opportunity to comment on the agency's project.

What is a Federal "undertaking"? This term includes a broad range of Federal activities: construction, rehabilitation and repair projects, demolition, licenses, permits, loans, loan guarantees, grants, Federal property transfers, and many other types of Federal involvement. Whenever one of these activities affects a historic property, the sponsoring agency is obligated to seek Council comments.

What is a historic property? For purposes of Section 106, any property listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places is considered historic.

What is the National Register?

The National Register is this country's basic inventory of historic resources and is maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. The list includes buildings, structures, objects, sites, districts, and archeological resources. The listed properties are not just of nationwide importance; most are significant primarily at the State or local level. It is important to note that the protections of Section 106 extend to properties that possess significance but have not yet been listed or formally determined eligible for listing. Even properties that have not yet been discovered (such as archeological properties), but that possesses significance, are subject to Section 106 review.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Development Centers conducts and reviews Section 106 compliance within the Northeast Georgia Mountains for Federal and Federally funded State Projects.  For questions or concerns please contact the Historic Preservation Planner.

Section 4(f)

Environmental statement/Section 4(f) evaluations document actions taken to preserve and enhance districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects of
historical, archeological, architectural, or cultural significance.

Section 4(f) requires a more rigorous level of consideration for historic properties than does Section 106. Section 106 requires only that effects on historic properties be considered and that the SHPO or the tribal historic preservation officer, as well as the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) if necessary, be afforded the opportunity to comment. Section 4(f), in contrast, requires that historic properties be used only if there is no feasible and prudent alternative.

The Historic Preservation Planners reviews Section 4(f) related projects within the Northeast Georgia Mountains.  For additional information please contact the Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center or visit the United States Department of the Interior’s Office of Environmental Policy on the web.

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