(A) The Downtown Business District, also commonly referred to as the Heritage Business District, shall be defined as follows: The regulations of the District shall apply to existing structures and buildings or structures and buildings constructed after the effective date of this section or in the process of being constructed or being constructed on the effective date of this section which are situated on all or any part of the following described lots in the city which are generally situated along Fourth Street between its intersection with Tenth Avenue and Twelfth Avenue:
Lots: Lot 2 in Block 10 in Range 10, Lots 1 and 2 in Block 11 in Range 10, and Lots 1 and 2 in Block 12 in Range 10, Lot 6 in Block 4 of West Fractions, Lots 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 in Block 5 of West Fractions, Lots 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 in Block 6 of West Fractions, including all vacated streets or alleys adjoining said lots.
(B) The regulations and standards set forth in this section shall apply to all existing structures and to any structures hereinafter constructed in the Downtown Business District.
(C) Structure appearance standards. All structures shall comply with each of the following requirements:
(1) For all new construction, the front exterior of a new structure shall have a facing material 50% of the gross wall area from the eave or coping line down to grade line constructed from one of the preferred materials approved by the City Council which may include glass, brick, glaze tile, wood or an approved equivalent. The facades of new structures shall have a front side that matches a majority (more than 50%) of consistent building patterns of existing structures within the District.
(2) Material guidelines:
(a) Material used shall be selected for suitability to the type of structure or design in which they are used.
(b) Materials shall have good architectural quality and character.
(3) Exceptions. Structures completely screened by other structures from a public street or not clearly visible from a public street shall be exempt from these requirements.
(4) In the event that a dispute arises as to which wall constitutes the front of a structure, the decision shall be made solely by the City Council by considering what the general public would regard as the front of the structures. The City Council will also determine alternative facing material than those specified in this section.
(5) All existing exposed brick structures in the District shall maintain the brick facade or the brick facade shall be restored to its original appearance.
(6) All exposed glass in any structure shall be maintained or restored to its original appearance.
(7) All awnings attached to any structures in the District shall be constructed of fabric. This prohibition shall not include overhangs from any structures.
(D) No building shall be demolished within the District unless a hardship exception has been granted by majority vote of the City Council after a written application has been submitted by the owners on a form approved by the City Administrator.
(Ord. 1194, passed 9-5-02; Am. Ord. 1314, passed 7-17-06; Am. Ord. 1336, passed 3-19-07)