Identify, Retain and Preserve
Identifying retaining, and preserving building and
landscape features which are important in defining the
historic character of the setting. Such features can
include roads and streets, furnishings such as lights
or benches, vegetation, gardens and yards, adjacent
open space such as fields, parks, commons or woodlands,
and important views or visual relationships.
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As shown in this historic plan, the elements
of setting, such as the relationship of buildings
to each other, setbacks, fence patterns, views,
driveways and walkways, and street trees together
create the character of a district or neighborhood. Drawing: NPS files.
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Retaining the historic relationship between buildings
and landscape features of the setting. For example,
preserving the relationship between a town common and
its adjacent historic houses, municipal buildings, historic
roads, and landscape features.
Removing or radically changing those features of the
setting which are important in defining the historic
character.
Destroying the relationship between the buildings and
landscape features within the setting by widening existing
streets, changing landscape materials or constructing
inappropriately located new streets or parking.
Removing or relocating historic buildings or landscape
features, thus destroying their historic relationship
within the setting.
Protect and Maintain
Protecting and maintaining historic building materials
and plant features through appropriate cleaning, rust
removal, limited paint removal, and reapplication of
protective coating systems; and pruning and vegetation
management.
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Urban buildings awaiting rehabilitation often need additional protection
from unwanted entry and graffiti. This commercial
building uses painted plywood panels to cover
its glass storefronts. The upper windows on the
street sides have been painted to resemble 19th
century sash. Photo: NPS files.
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Protecting building and landscape features such
as lighting or trees, against arson and vandalism before
rehabilitation work begins by erecting protective fencing
and installing alarm systems that are keyed into local
protection agencies.
Evaluating the overall condition of the building
and landscape features to determine whether more than
protection and maintenance are required, that is, if
repairs to features will be necessary.
Failing to provide adequate protection of materials
on a cyclical basis which results in the deterioration
of building and landscape features.
Permitting the building and setting to remain unprotected
so that interior or exterior features are damaged.Stripping
or removing features from buildings or the setting such
as wood siding, iron fencing, terra cotta balusters,
or plant material.
Failing to undertake adequate measures to assure the
protection of building and landscape features.
Repair
Repairing features of the building and landscape
by reinforcing the historic materials. Repair will also
generally include the replacement in kind--or with a
compatible substitute material--of those extensively
deteriorated or missing parts of features when there
are surviving prototypes such as porch balustrades or
paving materials.
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The rhythm and regularity of this cast iron
fence is so important to its visual character
that it could be altered by accidental damage
or vandalism, if some of the fence top spikes
were broken off. Keeping it in good repair, as
shown here, is critical to retention of its character
in the setting. Photo: NPS files.
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Replacing an entire feature of the building or landscape
when repair of materials and limited replacement of
deteriorated or missing parts are appropriate.
Using a substitute material for the replacement part
that does not convey the visual appearance of the surviving
parts of the building or landscape, or that is physically,
chemically, or ecologically incompatible.
Replace
Replacing in kind an entire feature of the building
or landscape that is too deteriorated to repair-- when
the overall form and detailing are still evident --using
the physical evidence as a model to guide the new work.
If using the same kind of material is not technically
or economically feasible, then a compatible substitute
material may be considered.
Removing a feature of the building or landscape that
is unrepairable and not replacing it; or replacing it
with a new feature that does not convey the same visual
appearance.
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The following work is
highlighted to indicate that it represents the
particularly complex technical or design aspects
of Rehabilitation projects and should only be
considered after the preservation concerns listed
above have been addressed.
Design for the Replacement of Missing Historic
Features
Designing and constructing a new feature of
the building or landscape when the historic feature
is completely missing, such as row house steps,
a porch, a streetlight, or terrace. It may be
a restoration based on documentary or physical
evidence; or be a new design that is compatible
with the historic character of the setting.
Creating a false historical appearance because
the replaced feature is based on insufficient
documentary or physical evidence.
Introducing a new building or landscape feature
that is out of scale or otherwise inappropriate
to the setting's historic character, e.g., replacing
picket fencing with chain link fencing.
The following work is
highlighted to indicate that it represents the
particularly complex technical or design aspects
of Rehabilitation projects and should only be
considered after the preservation concerns listed
above have been addressed.
Alterations/Additions for the New Use
Designing required new parking so that it is
as unobtrusive as possible, thus minimizing the
effect on the historic character of the setting.
"Shared" parking should also be planned so that
several businesses can utilize one parking area
as opposed to introducing random, multiple lots.
Designing and constructing new additions to
historic buildings when required by the new use.
New work should be compatible with the historic
character of the setting in terms of size, scale
design, material, color, and texture.
Removing nonsignificant buildings, additions
or landscape features which detract from the historic
character of the setting.
Placing parking facilities directly adjacent to
historic buildings which result in damage to historic
landscape features, such as the removal of plant
material, relocation of paths and walkways, or
blocking of alleys.
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If a rear elevation of a historic building
is distinctive and highly visible in the
neighborhood, altering it may not meet the
Standards. (top left and right) This 3-story
brick rowhouse featured a second story gallery
and brick kitchen wing characteristic of
other residences in the district which backed
onto a connecting roadway. (left) In the
rehabilitation, the wing and gallery were
demolished and a large addition constructed
that severely impacted the building's historic
form and character. Photo: NPS files.
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Introducing new construction into historic districts
that is visually incompatible or that destroys
historic relationships within the setting.
Removing a historic building, building feature,
or landscape feature that is important in defining
the historic character of the setting
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