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Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot, with a small lawn in front and a larger lawn
<br />• to the rear of the property. Those properties facing the river on Riverside Drive generally have sloping front lawns and flat back yards. The
<br />majority of structures have been erected on a single lot. Many of the properties include a garage located at the rear of the property accessed
<br />from unpaved alleys running behind the property. Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges. All houses conform to the uniform
<br />set-back within each block. The district has a compact layout. Large homes are constructed on small lots while smaller homes, such as those
<br />on Hammond Place, are constructed on narrow, deep lots. Little of the backyard areas or rear first stories of these homes is visible from the
<br />thoroughfare. In recognition of this, greater latitude will be allowed in the application of the adopted standards in the rear of the properties, in
<br />order to accommodate the individual preferences of the property owners in the treatment of these backyard areas. No approval will be
<br />necessary for changes in lawn, shrubs, walkways or semi-permanent surface changes in the rear of houses. Staff approval would be required
<br />for semi-permanent structures such as gazebos, but not for play equipment such as swing sets, sand-boxes, etc.
<br />Required
<br />Plants, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the properties' history and
<br />development shall be retained.
<br />Recommended
<br />New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and
<br />newspapers. New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Accessory structures
<br />such as decks, gazebos, fountains, or small outbuildings should be appropriate to surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance.
<br />Plant materials in close proximity to the buildings and which are causing deterioration to the building's historic fabric should be removed and
<br />replaced by more suitable flora as approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
<br />Prohibited
<br />No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other site elements before
<br />evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved
<br />nor blacktopped. Frontyard areas shall not be fenced, or fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of theproperty.
<br />Telephone or utility poles with high intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the thoroughfare. The
<br />installation of unsightly, large devices such as television satellite dishes shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the
<br />public thoroughfare.
<br />11. EXISTING STRUCTURES
<br />A. BUILDING MATERIALS
<br />Original exterior wall materials in the District include brick, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles and masonry block. In some instances, vinyl
<br />or aluminum siding has been applied over the original material.
<br />Required
<br />Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair, cleaning and
<br />• painting. The existing architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be retained or replaced by replicas of the
<br />same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Masonry including brick and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to
<br />halt deterioration or to remove stains, and shall be done with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure
<br />water and soft natural bristle brushes. When repairing stucco, only appropriate stucco mixture shall be used.
<br />Recommended
<br />Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored Metal or vinyl may be used as an alternative to maintaining or
<br />replacing the original surface material when it resembles the original surface material. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should
<br />be the same size and style as the original wood Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors, cornices,
<br />gables, eaves and other architectural features. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when aluminum or vinyl is to be installed
<br />in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or insects. Mortar joints should be repointed only when
<br />there is evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to stand in the mortar joint Existing mortar
<br />shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application and joint profile.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with material such as artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos or asphalt shingles, which is
<br />inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was constructed Sandblasting or the use of harsh detergents shall not be used on
<br />masonry or stucco. This method of cleaning erodes the surface material and accelerates deterioration.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Waterproof or water repellent coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces unless required to solve a
<br />specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and can accelerate deterioration of
<br />the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be. Repointing should not be done with mortar of high Portland
<br />cement content, which can often create a bond that is stronger than the building materials. This can cause deterioration as a result of the
<br />differing porosity of the material and the mortar — the end result being serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint should not be removed
<br />from masonry surfaces indiscriminately.
<br />C. WINDOWS AND DOORS
<br />Window and door frames are in most cases wood. Brick structures have stone sills and brick lintels. In some cases where synthetic siding
<br />has been applied, window trim has been covered Many structures in the district have aluminum storm windows. Some houses retain wood
<br />framed storm windows.
<br />Required
<br />Original windows and doors including sash, lintels, sills, shutters, decorative glass, pediments, hoods and hardware shall be retained or
<br />when deteriorated beyond repair, replaced with units and trim resembling the original.
<br />• Recommended
<br />Wood frame storm windows and doors, painted to match the original, should be used but should not damage existing frames. If new sash and
<br />doors are used, the existing or original materials, design, and hardware should be used When metal storm doors are used, they should be
<br />painted, anodized or coated to match the existing. When awnings are used they should be of canvas material.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Original doors, windows, and hardware shall not be discarded when they can be restored and re-used in place. New window and door
<br />openings which would alter the scale and proportion of the building should not be introduced Inappropriate new window and door
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