On an annual basis, Historic Athens solicits community nominations for that year’s Athens Places in Peril list. Inductees must meet three criteria:

1. Listed on / eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (i.e. places must be 50 years old or older and look largely as they did originally)

2. Must be facing a current threat to their existence or integrity

3. Must have active grassroots support for preserving the site.

After a careful review of nominations, Historic Athens selects a list of inductees that represents a balance of urgency, equity, grassroots support, and historic significance. Once a site is selected, Historic Athens works to:

1. Bring an increased level of attention to the site to promote its history and heritage, and also raise awareness of the site’s current condition

2. Partner with members of the local preservation community to assess the condition of the site and devise a preservation and maintenance plan

3. Engage the community and members of Historic Athens by hosting a well-publicized and organized public input session that, with the assistance of the organizers, can function as a fundraiser and planning session for future preservation efforts.