Introduction

In New Jersey, surveyors conduct intensive-level surveys for two reasons:

1. Completing a higher level of identification and documentation for planning surveys.
2. Complying with state and federal regulations.

An intensive-level survey requires more research, recordation and evaluation than a reconnaissance-level survey. It generates different forms and reports. These meet the higher information thresholds for regulatory survey work.

Parts of an intensive-level survey

Our Guidelines for Architectural Survey describe intensive-level survey parts in greater detail. However, they generally include:

1. Introduction
2. Research Design
3. Justification of Survey Boundaries and Scope
4. Historical Context
5. Data Summary
6. Effects and Alternatives (regulatory surveys only)

Designing the survey

As with the reconnaissance level, survey design is an essential first step in survey work. It develops research strategies and defines the survey area and property types. Research design accounts for the following:

• Project approach, goals and methodology.
• How the final product will create a well-rounded picture of the surveyed properties. It must integrate background research, field work and context evaluations.

Surveyors use this research design to explain:

• Project approach, goals and methodology.
• How the final product will create a well-rounded picture of the surveyed properties. It must integrate background research, field work and context evaluations.

At minimum, the research design should include:

• Objectives of the identification activities.
• Methods the survey will use to obtain the information.
• Expected results and the reasoning behind those expectations.

Additionally, intensive-level work based on a reconnaissance-level survey should incorporate that earlier work. The final report should include an abbreviated summary of the earlier survey’s methodology. This helps readers understand the project’s history better.

Defining the survey area

Planning surveys

An intensive-level planning survey reuses the reconnaissance-level survey area. This time, the emphasis shifts from broad overviews to targeted in-depth research. Properties that surveyors recommended for further study get revisited in greater detail. If the earlier survey identified a potential district, this may also form part of the study area.

Regulatory surveys

Types of properties to include

Intensive-level survey shares the same property types as reconnaissance-level survey. Likewise, those types should be at least 50 years old or of exceptional significance. The project sponsor’s needs will determine which types get included. For instance, the survey may focus on a specific type for a thematic historic context.

Regulatory surveys are more tailored to the needs and impact of the project. Some large and complicated projects, like infrastructure upgrades, take many years to complete. Survey and construction may spread across many phases and decades. To compensate, you may use a shorter age cutoff, like 40 years, instead of the standard 50-year cutoff.

The survey type also affects which properties require forms:

Intensive-level research

Intensive-level research strategies have a similar need for planning as reconnaissance-level research. Likewise, intensive-level surveys have their own historic overviews. The research schedule varies depending on the report type:

• Planning surveys develop existing reconnaissance-level research to meet intensive-level standards.
• Regulatory surveys conduct this initial research during the intensive-level phase. The final intensive-level product includes a historic context and other reconnaissance-level work.

As the survey level’s name suggests, intensive-level surveys extend into in-depth research. It develops intensive-level forms and reports, then uses these to determine eligibility. This usually requires extensive background history and individual property research. Intensive-level research also includes exploring local history. Without this, surveyors may overlook resources with local significance.

Regardless of survey type, surveyors should follow “Standard I. Identification of Historic Properties Is Undertaken to the Degree Required To Make Decisions” from the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Identification:

Archival research and survey activities should be designed to gather the information necessary to achieve defined preservation goals. The objectives, chosen methods and techniques, and expected results of the identification activities are specified in a research design. These activities may include archival research and other techniques to develop historic contexts, sampling an area to gain a broad understanding of the kinds of properties it contains, or examining every property in an area as a basis for property specific decisions. Where possible, use of quantitative methods is important because it can produce an estimate, whose reliability may be assessed, of the kinds of historic properties that may be present in the studied area. Identification activities should use a search procedure consistent with the management needs for information and the character of the area to be investigated. Careful selection of methods, techniques and level of detail is necessary so that the gathered information will provide a sound basis for making decisions.

For intensive-level survey, the most important part is the threshold for making decisions. If the final product does not meet this level of detail, it is of limited practical use.

Fieldwork and recordation

Existing survey data

If an old survey form was completed within the past ten years, it can be reproduced with a current photograph. Surveyors should complete a new form if

• The previous survey is over ten years old.
• Substantial new information is revealed.
• Major physical changes may have impacted the property’s significance and integrity.

Physical appearance

Recordation is vital to identifying and evaluating properties. Evaluators need an accurate picture of the property’s condition and integrity. Additionally, future researchers may still need information about altered or demolished properties. The description should extend to details not visible in a photograph, including

• Additions
• Outbuildings
• Features screened by trees or other obstacles
• Miscellaneous small details

Interiors

Lack of access may hinder documenting interiors. We do not require it for all intensive-level surveys, but it may be key to the character of some buildings. When appropriate and feasible, we strongly encourage recording publicly accessible interiors. Surveyors should make a reasonable effort to record the interiors for the following:

• WPA-era public spaces.
• Public or private spaces with unique or exceptional materials, finishes, hardware or treatments.
• Buildings with unique or exceptional floor plans.
• Buildings where a floor plan or other interior features may reveal information needed to determine age, significance or integrity.
• Buildings where the primary or only significance lies with its interior materials, finishes, hardware or treatments.
• Buildings built before 1840.
• Large urban post office lobbies.
• Train stations.

Record individual spaces and underlying floor plans. As with exteriors, use a mix of graphics and detailed descriptions.

Identifying and evaluating properties

Eligibility

A statement of significance explains whether a property is eligible. Regardless of whether the property is eligible, this statement should use definitive opinions. If funding limits primary research, a judgment may be difficult. Otherwise, avoid declaring “potential” eligibility whenever possible.

Integrity

Integrity is the ability of a building, site, structure, district or object to convey its historic significance. A property’s key physical features and characteristics define its character. They must convey the property’s significance.

The National Register of Historic Places criteria break integrity down into seven aspects:

1. Location
2. Design
3. Setting
4. Materials
5. Workmanship
6. Feeling
7. Association

Specific guidance varies depending on the property type. More generally, ask the following questions:

1. What characteristics or features defined this property’s character during its period of significance?
2. What are the unique and distinguishing features that make this property special?
3. Which of these features or characteristics survive?

Integrity vs. physical condition

Integrity is different than a property’s physical condition. A typical example is an older suburb with shared construction plans. Take two formerly identical houses from this neighborhood:

• House A is well maintained but has undergone several remodels. The owners enclosed its porch and changed its exterior materials. All windows and siding are replacements that the owners did not match to the originals. When they switched to vinyl siding, they removed most remaining wood trim. The original age and style of the house is no longer clear. House A has lost integrity.
• House B is in poor repair. It needs paint but still has original wood shingle, clapboard and windows. The porch is still open and has its original posts. A casual observer can guess the house’s age and style. House B needs maintenance and repair, but it retains more integrity.

Loss of integrity

When a surveyor determines that a property has lost integrity, the evaluation statement should focus on:

1. The kinds of integrity expected for that property type.
2. The features or aspects that are absent from the property type.

The impact of these absences on the property’s significance. These can be architectural, historical or research significance.

Assessment of impacts

Only regulatory intensive-level surveys include this component. Many state and federal laws require some type of impacts assessment. Surveyors start by asking whether the proposed project will impact eligible resources.

• If not, then no impact assessment is required.
• If so, what are the anticipated effects — positive and negative — on eligible resources?

For most projects, this assessment is part of the main intensive-level survey. Complicated projects may need to submit it at a later stage for the following reasons:

• The project affects a large number of resources.
• Identification is complex.
• Project planning has not advanced far enough yet to accurately predict impacts. Planners are still refining the project alignment and APE.