Evaluates the architectural and historical significance of buildings and districts. Recommends buildings or districts to the BOCC and various City Councils for designation as local landmarks. Reviews all building, demolition, moving, and sign permits for designated buildings and districts. Prepares and administers design guidelines for reviewing repair, rehabilitation, new construction and demolition requests within historic districts. An extensive network of preservation agencies at the national, state and local levels coordinates public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our cultural and historic resources.
Historic buildings are the tangible aspects of our history that people can feel and touch.
Without historic resources dotting our landscape, the communities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters would have not sense of place. The loss of the 1917 Pilot Butte Inn in 1973 focused attention on historic landmarks in Deschutes County and rallied support to preserve important historic resources for future generations. Not everything should be preserved. To be considered for designation, a building or district must represent and reflect elements of the county s culture, social, economic, religious, political, architectural, or aesthetic heritage. More than 400 buildings have been designated for heritage preservation in the all of Deschutes County.