20D.40.150 City Center Historic Design Subarea Standards.

20D.40.150-010 Purpose.

The purpose of this division is:

(1) To preserve the existing historic landmarks within the district;

(2) To maintain or enhance the historic integrity of the Leary Way corridor; and

(3) To ensure new development and additions or other remodeling within the City Center historic design subarea is complementary to and in context with the existing historic fabric. (Ord. 2164)

20D.40.150-020 Scope and authority.

The guidelines in this section shall apply only within the City Center historic design subarea as shown on the map entitled “City Center Historic Design Subarea.” City-wide and City Center design standards shall also apply to this area. Where the City-wide or City Center design standards or sign standards conflict, the historic design subarea guidelines shall prevail.

(Ord. 2164)

20D.40.150-030 Site Design.

(1) Intent. The core of this district developed between the late 1800s to the mid 1900s, encompassing a variety of periods. The intent of site design standards within the City Center historic design subarea is to ensure that historic patterns of land development and general character of the district that was created during this timeframe are maintained.

(2) Design Criteria.

(a) Building Setbacks. Setbacks shall reflect historic patterns. Commercial buildings shall front on the public sidewalk. Setbacks of residential structures from the public sidewalk should be minimized. Narrow areas of lawn or landscaping may be acceptable between entrances. Structures should be built to the side lot line or the side setback should be five feet or less not including access width. Rear setbacks may allow for a narrow alley access, for service entrances or for several stalls of parking. Additions or other remodels are encouraged to match this pattern when feasible.

(b) New structures should incorporate structured parking or mechanical stacked parking systems. Visible structured parking shall not front along the sidewalk edge except to allow placement of entrances. Structured parking should preferably be underground or in backs of structures. Surfaces masking parking shall continue design rhythms, colors, materials, and trims used in the other parts of the structure. Surface lots should be located to the rear of structures.

Figure 1. Parking Design

(Ord. 2164)

20D.40.150-040 Building Design.

(1) The intent of building design standards within the City Center historic design subarea is to ensure that historic landmark buildings maintain their prominence within the district and to ensure the character of the original downtown core is maintained. These building design standards shall apply to all new structures. Whenever it is feasible and in context with the existing structure, these standards will also apply to additions or other remodeling.

(2) Building Orientation.

(a) Entrances shall front towards the sidewalk.

(b) For peaked roofs, primary roof ridgelines or roof ridgelines predominant to the viewer shall run from front to back.

Figure 2. Roof Ridgelines for Peaked Roofs

(3) Building Scale. New construction should be in scale with existing historic patterns. In cases where the scale of the building is larger, techniques should be used to break up the scale of the building to match existing patterns. These techniques can include variance in roof height, vertical columns to break up facade, changes in roof or parapet detail, use of smaller repeating window patterns, use of fascia on the facade, facade articulation, and stepping back or modulating of upper stories.

Figure 3. Building Scale

Figure 4. Methods to Reduce Scale

(4) Building Design, Details and Materials.

(a) Buildings should incorporate vernacular architectural styles from the periods reflected in the district.

(b) Buildings should incorporate materials similar to those used on existing historic structures. This includes brick, stucco that is used in the art deco style, wood, and stone. Use of modern materials is acceptable to the extent that it differentiates the new structures from historic ones without substantially changing the visual character reflected in the district.

Figure 5. Illustration of Common Wood Siding Materials

(c) For one- to one-and-one-half story structures, a false front is allowed on peaked roofs.

(d) Hipped roofs are discouraged unless thay are in context with the period of architecture reflected in the district.

(e)Additions and other remodeling to existing buildings should closely pattern the architectural styles reflected in the district. Otherwise, additions and other remodeling should be complementary to the pattern of the district.

(f) Buildings shall incorporate details prevalent in the architecture reflected in the district.

Figure 6. Details Encouraged to Enhance Historic Character

(g) Details such as parapets and bands, windowsills, and doorframes shall consist of alternate materials or color to enhance detail.

(h) Size of individual windowpanes or false panes shall not exceed the smaller sizes typical of early period glass separated by mullions and rails. For windows above the first story, the height or vertical dimension shall be at least one and one-half the width or horizontal dimension or mullions or stiles should separate the panes to create a sense that the dimension of the vertical element exceeds the horizontal one.

Figure 7. Window Dimensions Above First Story

(i) Building fenestration shall consist of numerous individual windows or larger windows having multi-panes to avoid large areas of solid surface.

(j) For brick, stone, and art deco stucco structures, upper story windows shall be punched or recessed except for bay windows.

(k) Details such as soldier course or solid lintels and sills shall be used around windows in brick and stone structures.

Figure 8. Multi-paned Windows and Sill and Lintel Treatments

(l) Windows shall not start at floor level and shall repeat historic patterns that allowed views to the interior of a storefront.

(m) Transom windows are encouraged.

Figure 9. Transom Windows and Windows Above Floor Level

(n) Preferred window dimensions and type.

Figure 10. Preferred Window Dimensions and Types

(o) Recessed entrances are encouraged for storefronts. Porches, courtyard entrances, or stoops are encouraged for residential buildings.

(5) Building Color.

(a) New buildings, additions, and other remodels may contrast with that of existing buildings to the extent that use of color still allows a historic landmark building to remain prominent within the district.

(b) Preferred colors are those that reflect the historic patterns of the district; however, other colors, particularly on nonhistoric structures, will be allowed if they are complementary to surrounding structures. (Ord. 2164)

20D.40.150-050 Signage and Awnings.

(1) The intent of sign standards within the City Center historic design subarea is to ensure that all buildings in the district have signage compatible with or complementary to the historic landmark, the period of the structure, or with the general period reflected in the district.

(2) Size of signs will comply with Chapter 20D.160 RCDG, Signs, unless either compliance would be detrimental to the integrity of a historic landmark or when a design concept is more in keeping with the architecture reflected in the district.

(3) Preferred Signage. Window signage, painted signage on wooden facades, wood signs, signs on awnings, signs lit by sources other than the sign itself, or decorative signs hung perpendicular to the building facade are encouraged. Wood facsimile products may be an acceptable substitute. Use of backlit plastic wall signs, extruded aluminum, changing message, or other newer technology signs should not be allowed. Use of neon signs should be limited to window signs or art deco styled buildings.

Figure 11. Preferred Signage

Figure 12. Perpendicular Signage

(4) Use of signs with logos illustrating trades is encouraged.

Figure 13. Typical Trade Logo Signs

(5) Awning design, color, and lettering should be compatible with or complementary to the awning styles, colors, and lettering that are typical of the periods reflected in the district.

(6) For awnings, preferred styles are wedge awnings, bullnose entrance awnings, and flat decorative metal awnings anchored to the structure.

Figure 14. Preferred Awning Styles

(7) For wedge-style awnings, a narrow awning style is preferred.

Figure 15. Preferred Style for Wedge-Shaped Awnings

(8) Individual awnings over window and entrance awnings are preferred to wrap-around awnings.

(9) It is preferable for awnings that the lettering and logo does not dominate the awning facade unless the lettering style and size is in keeping with the historic period of the structure.

Figure 16. Name and Logo Should Not Dominate Awning

(10) The use of backlighting on fabric awnings is strongly discouraged. (Ord. 2164)