The Elk River Historic Context Study - A Proposal to the City of Elk River from Landscape Research November 23, 2001

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Elk River Historic Resources Study A Proposal to the City of Elk River From Landscape Research St. Paul, Minnesota November 23, 2001 With its roots as a fur trading post, Elk River is one of Minnesota's historic Mississippi River towns. Greek Revival houses, downtown commercial buildings, and early farmsteads in the surrounding agricultural area are among important evidence of its past. As the Elk River community continues to grow and develop, the role of historic resources will continually be evaluated through housing improvement, downtown development, and environmental review activities conducted for transportation and other projects. The proposed historic contexts study and downtown survey will provide the city with comprehensive information about the city's history and the significance of its historic resources. Historic Contexts The proposed study will develop historic contexts for Elk River and provide a comprehensive narrative and analysis of the growth of the city from settlement to the present. It is likely that one of the contexts will focus on Elk River's relationship to early Sherburne County and the Mississippi River, and the changing rural, suburban, and urban landscapes. Other contexts will analyze the development of agriculture, and commercial, institutional, and residential development. Whenever possible, examples of extant buildings or landscapes associated with each context will be identified. Downtown Survey The study will include a Phase I and II survey of the core downtown area. The survey will focus on the properties previously identified as significant by city staff. Based on a tour of the site and information from city staff, it appears that Phase II inventory forms can be completed for up to ten properties. (Additional survey is discussed below.) This project will be conducted within the Guidelines for Preservation Planning established by the Secretary of the Interior and will be compatible with databases maintained by the State Historic Preservation Offices. Preservation Planning Recommendations This study will assist the city in planning for historic and cultural resources. The study will also provide recommendations for further survey and evaluation of historic properties, sites, and landscapes in Elk River. The final report will combine text and illustrations in a useful and interesting format. It will be supplied in hard copy and on disk. Landscape Research will provide a quantity Elk River Historic Context Study 1 Landscape Research November 23, 2001