Conference/Public Meeting Agendas/Documents — Packet

25-16.8 Historic Respect. Downtown redevelopment must be respectful of its surrounding if an overall positive ambiance is to be created and preserved. Construction need not be imitative or quasi-Victorian in style; to the contrary, poor imitations, such as ersatz mansard roofs, awkwardly designed cupolas and inappropriate appliques are worse, cheapening and debasing the overall look of the downtown area. Contemporary construction and remodeling can be totally positive by using the language and essential substance of nineteenth-century architecture to guide the designer in massing, proportion, scale, texture, pattern and line. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10H) 25-16.9 Contrast. Another design approach and one of the ways to deal with the needs for new construction in an historic setting involved a harmonious juxtaposition of old contrasted with new; harmonious in terms of sensitivity to the essential substance of the historic precedent described above yet consciously contrasting in style and vernacular. This approach is difficult to master and should be considered only on a limited basis with acute concern for the enhancement of downtown. While the contrast must be strong, it must also fit its surrounds and not appear as an isolated, foreign element. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10I) 25-16.10 Exterior-Interior Relationship. A good exterior design solution should be an expression of what is going on within. This approach will result in a quality end product that is more than simply "cosmetics." Good design can begin with an efficient and attractive exterior and follow through with good detailing of such elements as window openings and entrances that lead to rooms and spaces of good proportions and shapes. The quality of the interior should fulfill the promise of a well-done exterior. Certain interior materials, through commercial over-use or residential saturation, almost always are disappointing and should be avoided. A few are shag-rugs, multi-colored or not; gold-flecked mirror tiles; veloured wall paper; barnwood, imitative stained glass; wood shingles; and simulated or imitative materials of any kind. These materials generally lack quality (plastic wood grains), soon show wear (shag carpets) and are hard to clean (wood shingles). Another consideration with these types of interior materials is that they are faddish and have no sense of duration or

d grains), soon show wear (shag carpets) and are hard to clean (wood shingles). Another consideration with these types of interior materials is that they are faddish and have no sense of duration or permanence. This is generally inconsistent with exteriors that carry the dignity of years. A prime example of the importance of exterior-interior relationship is evidence in the expression of the ceiling height as it relates to storefront windows. In the past, standard ceiling heights were much higher than they are today. In the case of remodeling, it is desirable to remove the once popular dropped ceiling thus restoring the original ceiling height on the interior and restoring the original window height on the exterior. If factors do not permit raising the ceiling, it may be possible to turn the ceiling up for a few feet just inside the window. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10J) 25-16.11 Preferred Materials and Finishes. Some materials and building techniques are more appropriate than others for use on facades and the visible portions of interiors. Good craftsmanship can make the most of inexpensive materials, while conversely, bad craftsmanship can ruin the effect of even the finest most expensive materials. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10K) 25-16.12 Inappropriate Materials. The following is an inventory of materials, the use of which should be avoided because of historical inappropriateness, maintenance problems or appearance: 69