For the first time in nearly half a century, Bristol is hiring a consultant to conduct a survey of resources within the Town’s National Register Historic District.

The district, covering roughly from Woodlawn Avenue to Washington Street, between Thames and Wood Streets, was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. While fieldwork on the assets within the district was conducted in 1978, that information is in need of updating.

According to Community Development Director Diane Williamson, the survey is being paid for by a Certified Local Government grant from the National Park Service, via the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (RIHPHC), with the cost not to exceed $35,000.

The project initially came about in response to efforts to determine which local structures might be vulnerable to sea level rise, and consultants working on that project found some significant gaps in the existing data.

The survey will involve taking digital photographs of each property in the district and noting whether that property was included in the original property inventory in the nomination and, if so, whether there have been changes or alterations to the property since the National Register nomination was prepared.

Examples of changes that would warrant notation include replacement windows, replacement siding, additions, and the demolition of all or part of a structure.

The consultant will also note whether each property in the district is considered contributing or non-contributing. According to the National Register of Historic Places, a contributing structure adds to the historic associations or historic architectural qualities for the period of significance of the historic district. A contributing property must also retain integrity, or enough of its historic physical features to convey its significance as part of the district.

A noncontributing structure does not add to the historic associations or historic architectural qualities, has been significantly altered, or is not associated with the historic theme or time period of the district.

The consultant will also be asked to make preliminary recommendations about whether the status of a building should be changed based on the age and condition of the property. Properties younger than 50 years old are not typically eligible for National Register listing, unless they are considered exceptionally important.

The consultant will also assess the current boundary of the district and make preliminary recommendations about whether the boundary should be changed and, if so, where and why.

Based on the original fieldwork, there are 1,147 contributing and 220 non-contributing properties in the district. The re-survey will lead to a better understanding of current conditions and to prepare for a possible update of the district’s National Register nomination or an update to the local Historic District zoning in the future.

Bids are due Oct. 4. The timeline, subject to finalized grant agreement between RIHPHC and the Town of Bristol, includes hiring of the consultant in October, receipt of a draft of the project in April 2024 for review by the Town and RIHPHC, project finalized in June of 2024 and presented to the public the following month.