Historic Property Surveys

Historic properties are identified primarily through the completion of historic property surveys.  These surveys may be conducted by city staff or by an outside entity.  Each survey looks at properties within a specific geographical area, which may be as small as a single city block or as large as the entire city.  Depending on the purpose of the survey, it may attempt to identify every eligible historic property in the survey area or it may focus on the eligibility of properties relating to a particular theme (such as commerce, agriculture, or ethnic heritage).  With some exceptions, historic property surveys generally consist of a summary of the survey methodology, a written report with one or more historic contexts, and an inventory of the historic properties identified in the survey accompanied by maps, photographs, and recommendations of eligibility.

Below is a link to a number of surveys that have been conducted for various areas or property types within the city.  Some surveys are older and may be outdated.  Others were limited in their scope.  For more information regarding eligible properties within the city, please contact the Historic Preservation Office at historic@phoenix.gov or (602) 261-8699.

Neighborhood Historic Surveys

• Avenida Rio Salado Historic Structures and Districts (2010)
• Miracle Mile Survey (2020)
• North Central Corridor Estate Survey (1993)
• North Mountain Park Building Inventory (2024)
• Phoenix Historic Building Survey (1979)
• Phoenix Public Institutional Architecture Survey (1991)
• Phoenix Rural and Estate Architecture Survey (1991)
  
• Piestewa Park Building Inventories (2017)
• Pre-1950 Historic Residential Resources Reconnaissance Survey including inventory forms. (1990)
• Pre-1950 Historic Residential Resources Reconnaissance Survey photos of buildings with addresses. (1990)
• Roosevelt Neighborhood Historic Buildings Survey with Inventories (1983)
• South Mountain Agricultural Area Historic Resources Survey (1989)

19th Century Architecture (1991) 

African-American Historic Property Survey (2004) 

Arcadia Historic Residential Property Survey (1993)

Asian American Historic Property Survey (2006)

• Vol. 1 Historic Property Survey  
• Vol. 2 Inventory Forms 
• Vol. 3 Oral History Transcripts 

City of Phoenix Historic Property Surveys for the Aviation Department

• Community Noise Reduction Program (2006)
  

• Residential Sound Mitigation Service (2007) ​​
  

• Seven Phoenix Airport Area Neighborhoods (2005) 
  

City-Owned Historic Properties Survey (1986)

• Vol. 1 HIstoric Architectural Survey 
  
• Vol. 2 Inventory Forms
  

Commercial Property Survey-Jr. League (1984)

• Introduction & Methodology
  
• Description
• Significance
• Eligible Inventory with Inventory Forms
• Remaining Inventory with Inventory Forms
• Bibliography

Hispanic Historic Property Study (2006)

• ​Project Scope, Methodology, Historic Context
• ​Establishing a Community​
• Migration, Marginalization, and Community Development, 1900-1939
  
• Acculturation and the Roots of Social Change, 1940-1956
• Community Expansion and the Struggle for Change, 1957-1975
• Conclusion, Property Types, Evaluation, Recommendations, and Appendices

Laveen Village Historic Property Survey (2007)

Post World War II Multi-Family Residential Housing Context 1945-1980 (2022)​

Public Housing in Phoenix 1940-1970 (2012)

Tourism-Related Resources of S. 17th Ave (2015) 

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