Standards and Guidelines 2023-0607

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 37 Residential Standards: Additions • For a larger addition, break up the mass of the addition into smaller modules that relate to the scale of the parts of the historic structure . • Use materials that are the same as or subordinate to the primary material of the original building . • Use materials that match the historic building in look and detailing . • Respect original roof forms when designing an addition . Additions should complement existing forms, not overwhelm them . • Design any new addition so that the first-floor height is equal to or slightly lower than the original building. The floor-to-floor heights should be equal to or up to ten percent (10%) less than the original building. In no case should the floor heights exceed those of the original building . • Design additions to have the same relationship of solids (wall surfaces) to voids (window and door openings) as the historic portion. • Design additions so that there are subtle distinguishing characteristics between the historic portion and the new . This may include simplifying details, changing materials, or slightly altering proportion . Rooftop Additions • Vertical additions are encouraged on side or rear roofs to minimize the impacts of additions and preserve rear yards . • The roof form of a dormer addition should be in character with and subordinate to that of the primary building . • Repeat the roof lines and slopes, and details found on the primary structure . Typically, gable, hip and shed roofs are appropriate for residential-type building additions. Flat roofs may occasionally be appropriate when no other option is feasible, or on international style structures . • When constructing a rooftop addition, keep the mass and scale subordinate to the primary building and to the overall roof mass and should be in scale with those on similar historic structures . • Dormer additions should not overhang the lower floors of the primary building. • Rather than oversized dormers or large bump up additions, an addition to the rear of a structure should be considered . • The ridge of a dormer addition should be below the ridge line of the primary structure . • A dormer should be similar in character to the primary roof form . • Use materials that match the historic building in look and detailing . • The number and size of dormers should not visually overwhelm the scale of the primary structure . Return to the Table of Contents