The City of Lafayette Redevelopment Commission approved a $22,800 contract with RQAW Corporation to perform Phase 2 of the Lafayette Historic Structure Survey Update.

Staff explained that a prior contract left about 1,000 address points that could not be confirmed; follow-up field work this summer narrowed the list to 412 properties that require assessment. The Phase 2 contract will provide field inspection, mapping, database development, data review and project coordination. “So over this past summer, we went out in the field and confirmed those and such that we narrowed it down to 412 properties that need to be assessed,” staff said.

Commissioner questions focused on who uses the database. Staff said the Historic Preservation Commission uses the database; the engineering department also uses it when demolition or alterations are proposed and building permits are requested so properties flagged as locally or nationally historic are identified. Staff confirmed the database is public.

A motion to approve the RQAW contract for $22,800 was moved, seconded and approved on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the survey and database support preservation review and day-to-day permitting by flagging historic properties, improving the city’s ability to track and manage potential impacts to historic resources.

What’s next: RQAW will perform field inspections and update the city’s historic-property database; staff will continue to coordinate with the Historic Preservation Commission and engineering as the work proceeds.