Contributing resources
From HistoricHydeSquare
Contributing resources are buildings that are part of the original fabric of a historic district. In Hyde Square, these are generally residential buildings that were constructed during the period of the district's significance.
The following excerpt from National Register Bulletin 16a gives a detailed definition:
DETERMINING CONTRIBUTING AND NONCONTRIBUTING RESOURCES
The physical characteristics and historic significance of the overall property provide the basis for evaluating component resources...
A contributing building, site, structure, or object adds to the historic associations, historic architectural qualities, or archeological values for which a property is significant because:
- it was present during the period of significance, relates to the documented significance of the property, and possesses historic integrity or is capable of yielding important information about the period; or
- it independently meets the National Register criteria
A noncontributing building, site, structure, or object does not add to the historic associations, historic architectural qualities, or archeological values for which a property is significant because:
- it was not present during the period of significance, or does not relate to the documented significance of the property
- due to alterations, disturbances, additions, or other changes, it no longer possesses historic integrity or is capable of yielding important information about the period; or
- it does not independently meet the National Register criteria
Buildings that have been altered beyond recognition or that no longer exhibit original features may be considered noncontributing.
Integrity
In addition, historic districts must be made up of buildings that exhibit integrity as defined in Bulletin 15:
Historic Districts
For a district to retain integrity as a whole, the majority of the components that make up the district's historic character must possess integrity even if they are individually undistinguished. In addition, the relationships among the district's components must be substantially unchanged since the period of significance.
When evaluating the impact of intrusions upon the district's integrity, take into consideration the relative number, size, scale, design, and location of the components that do not contribute to the significance. A district is not eligible if it contains so many alterations or new intrusions that it no longer conveys the sense of a historic environment.
A component of a district cannot contribute to the significance if:
- it has been substantially altered since the period of the district's significance or
- it does not share the historic associations of the district.
External links
- Massachusetts Historical Commission, Know-How #3
- National Register of Historic Places, Bulletin 16a and Bulletin 15
