Lafser and Associates is active in many facets of Historic Preservation. Our firm takes great pride in
assisting clients with the rehabilitation and development of their historic projects. We become the liaiso
for our clients with city officials, local preservation boards, State Historic Preservation Offices and the
National Park Service. Our highly principled skills help our clients bring their projects to a successful
and productive completion that is both beneficial for them and their local communities.
SERVICES WE PROVIDE
Cultural or Historic Resource Survey
We assist clients with architectural assessments of properties or neighborhoods to identify the potential
historic resources and possible new uses. This is the first step in determining project development and
economic possibilities.
National Register Nominations
Once a survey or assessment is completed, we then prepare a nomination of the historic resource or neighborhood for the National Register of Historic Places. This involves extensive historical research, context development, architectural development and professional photography.This step enables clients to qualify for historic tax credit incentives.Development of Design Guidelines
Our firm helps communities develop design guidelines for their historic properties and conduct public meetings to help property owners understand the requirements. Design guidelines convey community policies about design and provide a common basis for making decisions about work that may affect the appearance of individual properties or the overall character of the district. However, the decision guidelines do not dictate solutions. Instead, they define a range of appropriate responses to a variety of specific issues.
Section 106 Review
In the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Congress established a comprehensive program to
preserve the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation as a living part of community life. Section
106 is crucial to that program, because it requires consideration of historic preservation in the multitude
of Federal actions that take place nationwide. Section 106 requires Federal agencies to consider the
effects of their actions on historic properties and provide the State Historic Preservation Officer an
opportunity to comment on Federal projects prior to implementation. Section 106 review encourages,
but does not mandate, preservation. Sometimes there is no way for a needed project to proceed without
harming historic properties. Section 106 review does, however, ensure that preservation values are
factored into Federal agency planning and decisions. Because of Section 106, Federal agencies must
assume responsibility for the consequences of their actions on historic properties and be publicly
accountable for their decisions In order to be considered during Section 106 review, a property must
either be already listed in the National Register or be eligible for listing.
We assist client in the following areas in order to ensure compliance with Section 106 Regulations
- Determination of the area of potential effect.
- Identification of impacted cultural resources.
- Submission of Documentation the State Historic Preservation Office.
- Development of mitigation measures to explore alternatives to avoid or reduce harm to historic properties.
Historic Rehabilitation Projects
- Determination of eligibility for Neighborhood Preservation and Historic tax credits.
- Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and compliance assessments.
- Preparation of federal and state historic tax credit applications.