Every day, Historic Seattle receives calls from citizens interested in knowing more about local endangered buildings. DCLU signs, occasional articles in local newspapers, here-say from neighbors, or a tenant eviction notices might all point to a potential demolition. In many cases, considerable planning and financial investment have taken place before most of us are aware of what's happening - unless we plan ahead.

How can we be sure to know when an important local building is threatened? What can ordinary people do to ensure that great community assets are protected?

Preservationists have been advocating for a city-wide survey for several years. In 2001, City Council listened and allotted $170,000 within the 2001-2002 budgets for the first phase of the project. Historic building inventories are an extremely valuable tool for local governments, planners, and neighborhood groups, because they allow for an objective assessment of the resources within a given area. These surveys help preservationists prioritize focus, and point to the individual buildings that might be landmarks. When buildings in Seattle are landmarked, significant development actions get registered in the city's landmark review process. This is also true in landmark districts. This way, we won't be caught off guard by a potential demolition or drastic alteration to a significant building.

Seattle's city-wide survey relies upon volunteers to document buildings within their neighborhoods. Training sessions provide participants with the some of the tools professional preservationists use to evaluate historic resources.

The University District was the prototype for a city-wide survey that will proceed, neighborhood by neighborhood, until 2007. Carol Tobin, Planning and Preservation Consultant for the survey project, reports on the University District "Gems" survey.

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