The city of Chickamauga is conducting a comprehensive survey to catalog all buildings constructed prior to 1972 located within the city limits.
Funded by a grant from the National Park Service, the survey is part of a statewide effort to preserve - or at least record - Georgia's diverse communities, particularly structures that are of historical interest.
Last week, Laura Drummond, whose firm Atlanta Preservation & Planning Services has been contracted to conduct the survey, presented a preliminary report on the project's progress.
Drummond said every potential historic property will be photographed and documented from public right-of-ways and entered into a public database.
The information will help in future decisions regarding city projects, can benefit property owners by helping them qualify for tax credits or grants and could aid in marketing residential or commercial properties.
Documenting the unique qualities of the city can also attract tourists and television, film and video productions to the area, she said.
Aside from the obvious landmarks like the Gordon Lee Mansion, Lee & Gordon Mill or the coke ovens, the city has other notable houses and neighborhoods.
City Manager John Culpepper said local residents are unaware that the two mill villages are among only a few still left standing in the state.
And Drummond pointed to the block between the Depot and the Bank of Chickamauga as being camera-ready.
When the survey is complete, it will contain listings of buildings cataloged with regards to style and period; note any properties on local, state or national registries of historic buildings or districts and serve as a guide for future development.
More documentation will be done during the next few weeks and when the survey is finished there will be another public meeting to present the final version.