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Thursday, May 03, 2007

Guidelines for the Preservation / Restortion and Rehabilitation of Buildings in the Historic District of Carlise

Adopted by Borough Council, December 12, 2002

Historic District Guideline 1: Deteriorated material on the exterior of a building shall be repaired or replaced with material that replicates the existing (or preferably original) as closely as possible. The following materials shall not be permitted unless otherwise provided for elsewhere in these guidelines: artificial brick, artificial cast stone, vinyl, or aluminum. On recommendation of the HARB and action by Borough Council, other material may be deemed appropriate where the use of other material or materials replicates the detail, profile, configuration and properties of the existing (or preferably original) material.

Historic District Guideline 2: All buildings should be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis are not permitted; provided however, on recommendation of the HARB and action by Borough Council, alterations may be deemed appropriate where the use of said materials replicates the detail, profile, configuration, and properties of existing (or preferably original) material.

Historic District Guideline 3: Previous changes to a building, which have acquired significance in their own right, shall be recognized and respected.

Historic District Guideline 4: Aluminum or vinyl siding over brick, stone, or masonry is prohibited. Aluminum or vinyl siding over wooden buildings shall be prohibited where it can be readily seen from a public street or public way. If aluminum or vinyl siding is permitted as a replacement for existing aluminum or vinyl siding, the new aluminum or vinyl siding shall not be layered over the existing aluminum or vinyl siding.

Historic District Guideline 5: The method of cleaning brick, stone, or other masonry structures shall be by the gentlest means possible. It is recommended that low-pressure water cleaning with a mild detergent be tried first prior to any other type of cleaning method. Abrasive cleaning of brick or other masonry materials shall not be allowed unless it is necessary for the preservation of the historic structure. Chemical cleaning of brick or other masonry materials shall only be allowed where it can be shown that the chemical will not do permanent damage to the building surface, will not be harmful to the environment, and will be used in a safe manner. All chemicals used and the method of cleaning must first be approved by the Borough Engineer. The cleaning of buildings will only be allowed on a case-by-case basis. As an alternative to chemical or abrasive cleaning, it is recommended that repainting be considered to protect the historical significance of the building.

Historic District Guideline 6: The removal of distinguishing architectural features shall not be permitted. In cases where such features have deteriorated beyond saving, they shall be replaced with materials that replicate the detail, profile, configuration and properties of the existing (or preferably original) material.

Historic District Guideline 7: The location, dimension and material of replacement windows, doors and openings shall be the same as the existing (or preferably original) windows, doors and openings. Existing (or preferably original) windows, doors and openings, including all components: sash, glass, transoms, sidelights, lintels, sills, frames, moldings, shutters, doors, steps, and hardware, shall be retained and repaired whenever possible. Design or material changes that are not consistent with the existing (or preferably original) window or door components, and which appear on a primary facade of a building, shall be prohibited, except as set forth below. A primary facade is the elevation(s) of the building, which directly faces a public street or public thoroughfare; a building may have more than one primary facade. A secondary facade is the elevation(s) of the building that is (are) seen from a distant public street or public thoroughfare and substantially blocked from view by another building (such as the rear elevation screened by a garage or a side elevation adjacent to another building). Replacement windows or doors, or their components, which are on a building's secondary facade, shall be consistent in style with the existing (or preferably original) materials, but may be composed of other materials. Consistent with guideline number one, replacement materials on either a primary or a secondary facade shall be permitted if they replicate the detail, profile, configuration and properties of the existing (or preferably original) material.

Historic District Guideline 8: The original material and architectural features of porches, steps, and hand rails including balusters, columns, and brackets; roof decorations of wood, cast iron, terra-cotta tile, and brick should be retained when possible. Such materials shall be repaired or replaced with material that replicates the existing (or preferably original) as closely as possible.

Historic District Guideline 9: Roof shape and pitch shall be preserved. The material shall be repaired or replaced with material that replicates the existing (or preferably original) as closely as possible. If the cost of a particular material is prohibitive, such as slate, terra-cotta or metal, an aesthetic facsimile recommended by the HARB and approved by Borough Council may be utilized.

Historic District Guideline 10: Unless modified herein, the Board shall utilize the most recent version of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings in its recommendations.

Historic District Guideline 11: Signs should be integrated into the particular architectural character of the building and neighborhood and follow the Historical District precedent in form and in placement on the building. Signs should be either consistent with the period of the building or clearly contemporary to enhance old/new inter-relationship. Signs should approximate the quality of materials, designs, and workmanship of surrounding architecture and should be linked to particular building colors and/or materials.

Historic District Guideline 12: Signs should be primarily pedestrian oriented. Lettering should be clear, legible and in character with the architecture or history of the building. Signs should integrate hardware appropriately into sign design. The lighting of signs is to be considered as part of the aesthetic illumination of the overall display and/or architecture. The illumination should be subtle, pedestrian oriented, and not in competition with adjacent illuminated signs. NEON SIGNS ARE PROHIBITED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT UNLESS THEY BLEND IN WITH THE ARCHITECTURE OR HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.

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