Introduction to the Louisville Landmarks Commission Design Guidelines Draft

As we review the draft copy of the Landmarks Guidelines we read the following:

“Louisville is nationally recognized for its extensive collection of distinctive historic resources that are enjoyed by residents, business owners, and visitors as links to the City’s heritage, and that set the stage for a vibrant future. Preserving these historic assets is essential to Louisville’s well-being, identity, and character. As such, the City has developed clear policies for protecting its unique historic areas. This includes maintaining written guidelines for a variety of actions related to properties within Louisville’s locally-designated preservation districts and for individual landmarks.

"In Louisville, the Design Guidelines are provided as a series of individual chapters that address a variety of topics regarding changes to historic structures and districts. The Design Guidelines promote the community’s vision for preservation by guiding appropriate stewardship of historic resources and compatible redevelopment in locally-designated preservation districts. The following Design Guidelines chapters are an update to the existing guidelines implemented by the Louisville Landmarks staff. These guidelines continue preservation policies that were in place, clarify existing guidelines, and utilize many of the same illustrations.

"The Design Guidelines direct rehabilitation, alteration, expansion, new construction, and demolition involving locally-designated individual historic landmarks and properties in locally-designated preservation districts. They also guide and inform the Louisville Historic Landmarks and Preservation Districts Commission (referred to in the future as the Landmarks Commission) and the Architectural Review Committees (ARC), helping the City and property owners maintain the special characteristics of Louisville’s historic resources. This document serves as an introduction to the written design guidelines chapters and supplementary information, and presents topics on how to use the chapters, preservation theory, and general information about changes to historic buildings.

If, while reading this document and subsequent chapters, any questions should arise regarding the approval process, appropriate preservation techniques, or if a project needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, please contact the Landmarks Staff in the Planning and Design Services Office.”

The draft landmarks guidelines include the following chapters:

1. Introduction

2. Archaeology

3. Streetscape

4. Sustainability & Energy Efficiency

5. Maintenance

6. Site

7. Floors & Entryways

8. Windows

9. Roofing

10. Storefront

11. Siding & Trim

12. Masonry

13. Metal

14. Porches & Decks

15. Addition

16. Garages & Secondary Structures

17. Sign

18. New Construction Residential

19. New Construction Commercial

20. Demolition & The Economic Hardship Exemption

21. Alternative Materials

22. Residential Style Guide

23. Commercial Style Guide

Please review this draft presentation by reading a chapter each day.

The OLNC Property Improvement Committee plans to review and discuss the Landmarks draft chapters during their next PIC meeting (meeting date to be announced).

Herb Fink, Chair Property Improvement Committee

Old Louisville Neighborhood Council