Roswell seeks grant to survey historic black neighborhood

Roswell is seeking a $20,000 state grant to conduct a historic survey of the eastern part of the city (in orange), including the historic African-American community of Groveway. A prior survey covered the area in blue. CITY OF ROSWELL

Roswell is seeking a $20,000 state grant to conduct a historic survey of the eastern part of the city (in orange), including the historic African-American community of Groveway. A prior survey covered the area in blue. CITY OF ROSWELL

The Roswell City Council has given staff the go-ahead to apply for a $20,000 grant to fund Phase Two of the Roswell Historic Resources Survey of the Historic District.

The Historic Preservation Fund grant, from the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will require $30,000 in matching funds from the city, for a total project cost of $50,000, staff said in a report to the council.

The first survey phase recorded 809 resources in the survey area; the second phase will cover “East Assets” including the historic African-American community of Groveway, with 600 resources, staff said.

The survey will inventory buildings, structures, sites and objects, generally at least 40 years old, staff said. Roswell’s current Historic Assets Inventory was completed in 2001 and contains about 530 primary residences and structures, mostly in the city’s designated historic district.

A city must inventory its historic properties to maintain “Georgia Certified Local Government” status and qualify for state DNR grants, staff said.