hmwPreservation

Between 2026 and 2028, the Chatham County Planning Department is sponsoring an update to the survey of historic resources in the rural parts of Chatham County, excluding the municipalities of Pittsboro, Siler City, and Goldsboro.

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Architectural Survey is essential to preservation planning and forms the basis for many preservation decisions. The survey reports, files, photos, and maps are maintained as a permanent record by the State Historic Preservation Office, a Division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. A thorough survey provides the first step toward preservation success stories--directing new attention to familiar sights and encouraging the rehabilitation of historic properties. Perhaps most importantly, survey records facilitate decision-making about the potential impact of government funded or licensed projects on historic properties.

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Chatham County was initially surveyed in the 1980s, resulting in the creation of more than 800 survey files and the publication of the book, The Architectural Heritage of Chatham County, North Carolina. Chatham County has experienced significant growth in the last forty years and continues to face development pressures. An updated survey will not only provided a more thorough and inclusive architectural narrative for the county, but will aid evaluation of future developments.

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The current survey will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will take place from January 2026 to August 2027 and will include the updated documentation of approximately 550 properties surveyed by the architectural historians in the 1980s. The documentation will include verification of property locations and the continued existence of the historic resources; notes on building materials and condition; updated digital photographs of all buildings and site features; and additional archival research for select properties.

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The second phase will take place from January 2027 to August 2028, during which time surveyors will document approximately 400 additional properties in rural Chatham County. These properties, identified by the surveyors and through public recommendation will prioritize twentieth-century resources, specifically those associated with minority communities and those that illustrate Modernist design or other building trends unique to Chatham County. Farmsteads, churches, schools, and commercial and community buildings will also be recorded.

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If you have suggestions for properties to be documented in Phase 2, fill out the following form.