tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post4194227453093275238..comments2023-10-22T08:07:49.340-05:00Comments on Oakhurst Historic District: Economics, Sustainability & Historic PreservationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post-50099389822247181262007-09-26T12:12:00.000-05:002007-09-26T12:12:00.000-05:00Additions to buildings also result in about the sa...Additions to buildings also result in about the same loss of trees as new construction. Many of the new houses have much a smaller footprint than those that are added on to because of how the storm water regulations work. New buildings generally occupy the same footprint of the former building, but appear larger because they are forced to be 2 story. <BR/><BR/>No one wants a 2 bed 1 bath house, yet the vast majority of the homes in Oakhurst were originally of this configuration. Let's face it, at some point most of these houses will be either added to or demolished. Most people are completely unrealistic about what they say they want and what size they picture it becoming. Everyone who thinks that the in-fill housing is too large may be shocked to find out that these houses have less space than what they would ask for when considering their own project.<BR/><BR/>As far as green building is concerned, there are things that were done in the past that achieved certain "sustainable" results like porches and ventilation and then there were miserable failures like no insulation and gabled facades leaving large windows completely unprotected from solar heat gain. SD is right that there is a "gizmo" mentality about adding a green feature or two as a status symbol. This does not mean your building is green and you are living a responsible lifestyle. A true green building has a symphony of features working together that include fundamental lifestyle changes. There are many lessons to be learned from the past as well as many failures that should be forgotten. The old adage "they don't build 'em like they used to" does not necessarily apply to buildings as our codes force us to build stronger, more energy efficient buildings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post-78888355022850920092007-09-26T06:08:00.000-05:002007-09-26T06:08:00.000-05:00Renee,Whether or not alterations, additions, or re...Renee,<BR/><BR/>Whether or not alterations, additions, or repairs to a non-contributing home require a COA or COE is determined by the design guidelines. In the Clairmont District only demolition, additions, and new construction require COA. This means that moving a window, moving a door, re-roofing, screening a porch, etc. do not require a COA. Additions and new construction must be reviewed in ensure that the design does not detract from the historic resources (homes) that are being preserved. This does not mean that a modern home design could not be built. When the community worked on the design guidelines for the original nominated area we included a lot of flexibility for non-contributing homes and new construction. The Department of the Interior guidelines for historic preservation allow for this flexibility.<BR/><BR/>As for your direct question, it would appear that demolition of non-contributing properties and new construction would require a COA in the Ponce Court district. Other alterations to non-contributing would not. However, I am not an expert on the ordinance and will confirm this is the case. Thanks.Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03526453135306309224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post-59977131446737051352007-09-25T14:09:00.000-05:002007-09-25T14:09:00.000-05:00I disagree. Environment issues are an important p...I disagree. Environment issues are an important part especially since here in Oakhurst preservation wins out environmentally over demolition. One of the things not mentioned here is the number of large old trees that are lost every time a new house is built here in Oakhurst. I have seen very few new construction projects that didn't leave one of these beauties either dead or dieing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post-73038654606311940632007-09-25T08:37:00.000-05:002007-09-25T08:37:00.000-05:00This post makes a great point that needs to enter ...This post makes a great point that needs to enter the conversation, as it's become all too easy for anyone to raise the "green flag" to justify their position, implying that their opponents are anti-environmental.<BR/><BR/>Green is not an either/or proposition. What's required is that people recognize the two facets of green: "original green" and "gizmo green."<BR/><BR/>The original green meant designing houses that captured cross breezes, were built more of human energy than petroleum energy, used porches to reduce heat gain, were arranged compactly, making walking and rail viable transportation options, used less consumptive materials and, yes, were of more modest square footage. It also meant living in relative proximity to where your food was produced.<BR/><BR/>Gizmo green is the application of technology and other mechanical methods to reduce the impact of how we live today. Great strides have been made here in terms of home energy efficiency, materials recycling, and consumption of resources.<BR/><BR/>Here's the rub: One or the other ain't gonna solve all our problems. Future sustainability will require incorporation of *all* best practices, old and new. And even then, if the focus is only on the building itself, it can only take you so far.<BR/><BR/>After all, living in a zero-impact house doesn't go so far if you're still driving 30 miles to work and eating 3,000 mile Caesar salads.<BR/><BR/>My point? Let's remove green superiority from the LHD debate. I think it's fair to say that folks on both sides -- at least 'round these parts -- have noble intentions in that regard.<BR/><BR/>Let's keep the focus on what our shared desired outcomes are and what constitutes the best tool(s) or method(s) for getting there. That's what this is really about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4990818184521452285.post-11590455782943704072007-09-25T06:05:00.000-05:002007-09-25T06:05:00.000-05:00Ponce Court's design guidelines state that if a re...Ponce Court's design guidelines state that if a repair or maintenance is not specifically defined in section 58-3 then a COA or COE is not required. There are five items listed and there is no mention of non-contributing structures. Does that mean that non-contributing structures do not require a COA or COE?<BR/><BR/>Sec. 58-3. Definitions.<BR/>The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:<BR/>Certificate of appropriateness means a document evidencing approval by the historic preservation commission of an application to make a material change in the appearance of a designated historic property or of a property located within a designated historic district. <BR/>Certificate of exemption means a document evidencing approval by the historic preservation commission or its authorized designee of an application to make a change other than a material change as defined by the design guidelines adopted as part of the ordinance designating the specific local historic property or local historic district. <BR/>Exterior architectural features means the architectural style, general design and general arrangement of the exterior of a building or other structure including, but not limited to, the kind or texture of the building material and the type and style of all windows, doors, signs and other appurtenant architectural fixtures, features, details or elements relative to the foregoing. <BR/>Exterior environmental features means all those aspects of the landscape or the development of a site which affect the historical character of the property. <BR/>Historic district means a geographically definable area designated by city commission as a historic district pursuant to the criteria established in section 58-62. <BR/>Historic property means an individual building, structure, site, object or work of art, including the adjacent area necessary for the proper appreciation thereof, designated by city commission as a historic property pursuant to the criteria established in section 58-63. <BR/>Material change in appearance means a change that will affect either the exterior architectural or environmental features of a historic property or any building, structure, site, object, landscape feature or work of art within a historic district, such as: <BR/>(1) A reconstruction or alteration of the size, shape or facade of a historic property, including any doors or windows or removal or alteration of any architectural features, details or elements;<BR/>(2) Demolition or relocation of a historic structure;<BR/>(3) Commencement of excavation for construction purposes;<BR/>(4) A change in the location of advertising visible from a public right-of-way; or<BR/>(5) The erection, alteration, restoration or removal of any building or other structure within a historic property or district, including walls, fences, steps and pavements, or other appurtenant features.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com