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Downtown Assessment Guide

This tool helps you see your buildings more clearly — not just what's in front of you, but what the building may be holding, risking, or leaving behind. Fill out one form per building. Submit as many as you need.

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Assessment Submitted

Your building assessment has been recorded. This data will help inform downtown revitalization planning, preservation priorities, and funding strategy.

— Building Information
01 Exterior & Storefront
Can you see into the space from the sidewalk? Does it signal welcome?
Is the entry clear, accessible, and easy to approach?
Does the facade feel cohesive, or has it been altered in ways that feel inconsistent?
Are original windows, doors, or storefront systems still present, or have they been replaced?
Is there deferred maintenance undermining the building's first impression?
Section Notes
Preservation Indicator

If original materials, windows, or storefront elements are still present — even in worn condition — this building may be holding more historic value than you realize. Don't alter before consulting an expert.

02 Ground Floor Interior
What is the first impression from the threshold — inviting or stalling?
Is the lighting warm and flattering, cool and uncomfortable, dim or bright?
Can you hold a conversation comfortably, or does the acoustics work against the space?
Are there reasons and places to linger, or is the space purely transactional?
Does the layout guide people naturally, or do they pause at the entrance?
Are there original interior features — floors, ceilings, columns, millwork, tile?
Section Notes
Design Opportunity

Dwell time drives sales. If the interior isn't giving people a reason to stay, the storefront is doing all the work… and losing.

03 Upper Floors
Are upper floors occupied, vacant, or underutilized?
Is there a clear, welcoming point of access, or is the entry disconnected from street life?
Could this space support any of the following? (Select all that apply)
Are there significant interior features — volume, windows, finishes, circulation — worth evaluating?
Section Notes
Tax Credit Alert

If this building has historic character and upper floor reuse is being considered, preservation and tax credit strategy must be part of the conversation before scope decisions are made. One uninformed decision can eliminate access to significant incentives.

04 Historic Character & Integrity
Does the building appear to be older than 50 years?
Are original materials visible — masonry, cast iron, terra cotta, ornament, wood, etc.?
Has the building been significantly altered? Do those changes feel like losses?
Is it within or adjacent to a local historic district or National Register property?
Does this building carry a story — an industry, a community, an era — worth preserving?
Section Notes
What You May Not Know

Significance is not always visible on the surface. A building that reads as ordinary may be eligible for designation, incentives, and a narrative that changes how the community values it entirely.

05 Community, Activation & Experience Potential
Does this building have a spatial quality that could anchor a neighborhood identity?
Is there community memory or emotional attachment connected to this building?
Could programming, events, or activation make this a destination rather than a pass-through?
Does the current tenant or owner understand the design potential of what they occupy?
Section Notes
What This Tells You

A space that inspires lingering, conversation, or return visits isn't accidental — it is designed. When a building shows this kind of potential, the question is no longer whether design matters. It is how soon you can bring the right partner in to make it real.

06 Funding & Incentive Readiness
Is the property income-producing — commercial or rentable residential?
Has anyone evaluated whether it qualifies for federal or state historic tax credits?
Are DDA, brownfield, MEDC, or CLG grant programs aligned with any planned improvements?
Has design or preservation expertise been engaged before scope or permit conversations begin?
Historic District Status
In a Historic District?
If Yes — Contributing?

This assessment is a starting point, not a substitute for qualified design and preservation expertise. | reedwalkerdesign.com

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Onsite Insight is a structured, full-day design and preservation workshop. We walk your buildings together — identifying historic character, design opportunities, funding alignment, and the questions that matter before any scope, permit, or investment decision is made.

Onsite Insight Workshop — Starting at $2,500
jenna@reedwalkerdesign.com  ·  reedwalkerdesign.com
This guide is a starting point, not a substitute for qualified design and preservation expertise.  |  reedwalkerdesign.com