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Saint Casimir's Parish National Register Historic District Historic Preservation Commission I. Character Defining Features Worth Preserving. A. ENVIRONMENT, NEIGHBORHOOD LAYOUT, AND STREETSCAPE 1. Cadence or pattern of the houses • Modest houses on smaller lots that have a distinctive setback from the street and are close to the sidewalks. • Generally unbroken pattern to houses with few cleared lots due to demolition. • Housing pattern is less intact near the railroad tracks that border the area. • Street layout and lot size is pedestrian friendly. Note of Importance: An unbroken rhythm of houses along a street is an integral feature of the district. This should be preserved. The rhythm is not only the historic marker of the neighborhood's develop- ment and culture, but it creates an atmosphere of safety, comfort, and community. Dunham Street Streetscape with St. Casimir's bell tower in the distance. 2. Alleyways: provide rear access to homes, garages, and rear yards. 3. Brick streets • Typically narrow with a curb, narrow tree lawn and sidewalk adjacent to the street. • Traffic calming features as well as historic elements that improve safety for children and pe- destrians. 4. Commercial buildings • Located at street intersections and some interspersed within neighborhood blocks. • One and two -storied masonry buildings, early 1900s. " • Fagades much changed; fine architectural elements remain on some fagades and second story: cornices, stone sills, some original windows. • Could be rehabilitated as neighborhood centers, businesses, shops, etc. 5. Churches and their auxiliary buildings • Early 20th century parish buildings that evoke European church styles. • Locales of important events relating to the neighborhood. • Serve as spiritual, religious, and social centers for the neighborhood. - Page 1 -