How Do You Map the Character of a City? A New Tool Offers Solutions.

The historic character of a community is often obvious. But in some places the past is less obvious and its significance harder to protect. 

The historic character of a community is often obvious. You can see it in the rooftop lines of adjoined rowhouses or in the charming pocket park tucked beside a collection of apartment buildings. You can track it through the single-family residential neighborhood with small businesses on the corner. Even the culture of residents reflects the past and helps define communities.