5. 518 South St. Joseph Street_COA 2021-0427A

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posts must be similar in proportion, scale, and detail to existing historic lamps (see appendix) or a suitable replacement which closely duplicates the standard in size, shape, style, and appearance, i.e., Herwig Lighting Company standard or similar. Streetlights should be placed so that adequate illumination is afforded all sections of the public sidewalks. Tree and landscaping elements that must be removed for one reason or another shall be immediately replaced by suitable flora. Recommended Whenever possible, the original features should be restored. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to buildings, sidewalks or streets that are causing deterioration to those elements should be removed. When replacement of utility poles or power supply lines is necessary, consideration should be given to underground conduits or utility poles erected along rear property lines. Prohibited Existing relationships of buildings and their environments shall not be destroyed through widening or closing existing streets and alleys, application of asphalt or other bituminous coverings or by introducing new streets or parking lots. Signs, streetlights, benches, major landscaping items, fencing, walkways and paving materials which are out of scale or inappropriate to the neighborhood may not be used. The introduction of heavy trucks or similar vehicles in the District shall be prohibited. Not Recommended Telephone or utility poles which high-intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the thoroughfare. B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot with a small to medium lawn in front and little to no lawn at the rear of the property. Often the back yard is used as a parking lot for tenants. About half of the properties include a garage which is either located at the rear of the property and accessed from unpaved alleys running behind the property or located directly next to the structure and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage structure and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage structures are out of date, single-stall frame buildings. One larger carriage house still stands in the district. Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges. Most houses conform to the uniform set-back within each block. Required Plants, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property’s history and development shall be retained. Recommended New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings, and newspapers. New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type, and appearance. Accessory structures such as decks, gazebos, fountains and/or small outbuildings should be appropriate to surrounding site elements in scale, type, and appearance. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building and causing deterioration to the building’s historic fabric should be removed and replaced by suitable flora as approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Prohibited No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other site elements before evaluating their importance to the property’s history and development. Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. Front yard areas shall not be fenced or fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installation of unsightly devices such as television satellite dishes, solar panels and skylights shall not be premised in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare. […] E. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS The majority of the structures within the District have oil or gas heat, and have brick chimneys through the roof. Some houses have one or two window air conditioners. Required Mechanical systems shall be placed in areas that will result in the least possible alteration to the structural integrity and physical appearance of the building. Solar collectors and TV dishes shall be placed at the rear of the property and shielded by shrubbery and landscaping. Recommended Windows air conditioners and exhaust fans should be installed at the rear or at an inconspicuous side window. Original lighting fixtures should be retained whenever possible. Prohibited Holes shall not be cut though walls or roofs to accommodate air conditioners or other mechanical equipment in areas that can be seen from the street. Not Recommended Exterior electrical and telephone cables should not be attached to the principal elevation of the building. III. NEW CONSTRUCTION New construction includes any new building or structure constructed within the boundaries of the historic district, or any new addition to an existing building. New construction should be designated considering the appearance of the other buildings in the neighborhood. a. HEIGHT AND PROPORTION The majority of structures in the district are two stories in height and are square, rectangular, or irregular in plan. There are a few story-and-a- half residences. The prevalent façade proportions are between a 1:1 and a 1:2 height-to-width ratio. Required The height of a new structure and its height-to-width proportions shall be consistent with adjacent buildings in the district. The building height shall be no greater than that of the tallest existing structure and no less than that of the lowest existing structure in the same block. Façade proportions shall be established by permitting no structure with a façade wider or narrower than those existing in the same block. Additions to existing buildings shall be related in height and proportion to the existing structure. Recommended Contemporary designs should be compatible in height, proportion, character, and mood to the building or neighborhood Prohibited