The following standards shall apply when undertaking the renovation of existing buildings within the downtown retail overlay district:
A. Where originally constructed buildings facades remain, their appearance shall not be altered. Such facades shall be repaired and preserved. Where facades have been altered, as much original material and detail shall be retained in the rehabilitation as possible.
B. Where most of the existing architectural design dated from an interim remodeling and where such remodeling adds to the traditional character of the district, rehabilitation shall conform to the period of such remodeling and not to the original design.
C. Where the original design cannot be determined or where financial considerations preclude full-scale rehabilitation of a façade which has previously been altered, a design which is not a pure rehabilitation but which is in keeping of the structure are prohibited.
D. Where originally constructed facades and/or architectural details have been covered by an interior remodeling, the removal of coverings is encouraged. When original materials, facades and/or architectural details are uncovered, these shall not be recovered.
E. Where windows and doors still exist, the original sills, lintels, frames, sash, muntins and glass of windows and transoms shall be preserved. The original doorway elements, including sill, lintels, frames, and the doors shall also be retained. Where possible, replacements should duplicate the originals in design and materials. The blocking or covering of any portion of an existing window or door opening with permanent materials is prohibited. When new window or door openings are created, the scale of these should approximate that of the traditional architecture of the district. The base of new window opening shall be a maximum of thirty (30) inches above ground level. Whenever the size and/or scale of any existing window openings are altered, the base of all the window openings in the storefront shall be brought into conformance with the maximum 30-inch standard. This subsection shall not apply to ordinary repair or replacement of window glass or frames where the size and/or scale of window openings are not altered.
F. Brick is most dominant traditional building material within the district and is preferred as a replacement material. Brick shall not be covered by wood shingles, wood, aluminum siding, or any other synthetic materials. Where brick has been painted, repainting in a color that matches the natural color of the brick as closely as possible is preferred. Where brick remains unpainted, the use of paint in the exterior is prohibited, since unpainted brick is a crucial element of the traditional character of the district.
G. Stuccoed brick surfaces should be retained, unless held in place with wire mash, in which case the stucco should be removed. Where retained, stucco should be repainted in a brick color. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017)