THE OPPORTUNITY

PS&S’s Cultural Resource team frequently works with municipalities and local historic preservation commissions on a broad range of projects.

THE CHALLENGE

New Jersey Register Act

PS&S has helped numerous municipalities and other public entities through the New Jersey Register Act application process, which requires a cultural resource investigation for public undertakings that may affect National Register of Historic Places – listed properties. Because this investigation can involve multiple phases of archaeological and architectural survey, a thorough understanding of the application process is critical to helping projects move forward. PS&S’s familiarity with the application process helps municipalities coordinate with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) efficiently and effectively so that the sale and resulting projects are not unnecessarily delayed.

Historic Architecture Surveys

PS&S architectural historians and cultural resource team members have completed multiple large-scale Intensive-Level Historic Architecture Surveys for historic districts designated at the local, State, and National levels. PS&S coordinates between the municipality and the SHPO to define a list of properties to be surveyed and address concerns that either entity might have. These surveys include a report of the district’s history and development, architectural descriptions, property specific histories, photo documentation, and entry into a SHPO database.

Design Guidelines – Authorship and Compliance Review

PS&S has extensive experience with local historic preservation ordinances and historic district design guidelines. We have written design guidelines for municipal historic commissions and we often work with architects who need help making their projects compliant with local guidelines. PS&S’s services include reviewing both private and public projects for their compliance with any applicable guidelines and preservation codes, expert testimony in front of municipal review boards, the development and promulgation of historic district design guidelines and design reviews for municipalities that require an expert opinion on permit applications.