HPC of South Bend and St. Joseph County - Standards Update Draft

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 66 Commercial Standards: New Construction Materials • Use masonry that appears similar in character to that seen historically . Brick should have a modular dimension like that used traditionally . Brick larger than the nominal 2-3/8” x 8” is discouraged. Brick should also appear structural in its application as load bearing and should be detailed accordingly . • Stone, like that used traditionally, is also appropriate . • New materials that are similar in character to traditional materials may be acceptable with appropriate detailing . • Alternative materials should appear similar in scale, proportion, texture, and finish to those used traditionally for that building type. • Use high quality, durable materials proven to be durable in the local climate . • Façade materials should maintain an intended finish over time or acquire a patina which is understood to be an outcome of normal interaction with the elements . The following is not recommended and generally not approved by the Commission: Setbacks and Site Parameters • Demolishing contributing structures in a historic District to make way for new or large-scale construction. • Locating entire building fronts behind the established storefront line . Massing and Scale • Exotic roof forms, such as A-frames and steep shed roofs. Architectural Character • Odd window shapes such as octagons, triangles, and diamonds . • Oversized and undersized interpretations of storefronts . Materials • Vinyl and synthetic materials . • The use of highly reflective materials is discouraged. Return to the Table of ContentsDRAFT