(a) Changes Generally. A building or structure, classified as "historic" or any part thereof, or any appurtenance related thereto, including but not limited to stone walls, fences, exterior fixtures, steps, pavings and signs shall only be moved, reconstructed, altered, or maintained in a manner that will preserve the historical and/or architectural character of the buildings, structure or appurtenance thereto.
(b) Demolition of Historic Buildings. Whenever a property owner shows that a building classified as "historic" is incapable of earning an economic return on its value, as appraised by a qualified real estate appraiser, and the Design Review Board fails to approve the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness, such building may be demolished provided that before a demolition permit is used, notice of proposed demolition shall be given as follows:
(1) Buildings rated exceptional: six months
(2) Buildings rated excellent: five months
(3) Buildings rated notable: four months
Notice shall be posted on the premises of the building or structure proposed for demolition in a location clearly visible from the street. In addition, notice shall be published in a newspaper of general local circulation at least three times prior to demolition, the final notice of which shall not be less than fifteen days prior to the date of the permit, and the first notice of which shall be published no more than fifteen days after the application for a permit to demolish if filed. The purpose of this section is to further the purposes of this chapter by preserving historic buildings which are important to the education, culture, traditions and economic values of the City, and to afford the City, interested persons, or organizations, the opportunity to acquire or to arrange for the preservation of such building. The Design Review Board may at any time during such stay approve a certificate of appropriateness in which event a permit shall be issued without further delay.
(c) Relocation of Historic Buildings. An historic building shall not be relocated on another site unless it is shown that the preservation on its existing site is not consistent with the purposes of this section, or such building will not earn an economic return for the owner of the building on such site.
(d) Protective Maintenance of Historic Buildings. Historic buildings shall be maintained to meet the requirements of the minimum Housing Code and Building Code.
(e) Contemporary Buildings. The construction of a new building or structure and the moving, reconstruction, alteration, major maintenance or repair materially affecting the external appearance of any existing contemporary building, structure, or appurtenance thereof shall be generally of such design, form, proportion, mass, configuration, building material, texture, site location as will be compatible with other buildings designated as "historic" and with adjoining areas and places to which is it is visually related.
(f) Visual Compatibility Factors. Within the Design Review District, new construction and existing buildings and structures and appurtenances thereof which are moved, reconstructed, materially altered, repaired or changed shall be visually compatible with buildings, adjoining areas and places to which they are visually related generally in terms of the following factors:
(1) Height. The height of the proposed building shall be visually compatible with adjacent buildings.
(2) Proportion of building's front facade. The relationship of the width of the building to the height of the front elevation shall be visually compatible to buildings, adjoining areas and places to which it is visually related.
(3) Proportion of openings within the building. The relationship of the width of the windows to the height of windows in a building shall be visually compatible with buildings, adjoining areas and places to which the building is visually related.
(4) Rhythm of solids to voids in front facades. The relationship of solids to voids in the front facade of a building shall be visually compatible with buildings, adjoining areas and places to which it is visually related.
(5) Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. The relationship of the building to the open space between it and adjoining buildings shall be visually compatible to the adjoining area and places to which it is visually related.
(6) Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projection. The relationship of entrances and porch projections to sidewalks of a building shall be visually compatible to the buildings, adjoining areas and places to which it is visually related.
(7) Relationships of materials, textures and color. The relationship of the materials, texture and color of the facade of a building shall be visually compatible with predominant materials used in the buildings to which it is visually related.
(8) Roof shapes. The roof shape of a building shall be visually compatible with the buildings to which it is visually related.
(9) Scales of a building. The size of the building mass of a building in relation to open spaces, the windows, door openings, porches and balconies shall be visually compatible with the buildings, adjoining areas and places to which it is visually related.
(10) Directional expression of front elevation. A building shall be visually compatible with the buildings, adjoining areas and places to which it is usually related in its directional character, horizontal character or nondirectional character.
(11) Signs. A building's signs shall be visually compatible and related to the scale, rhythm, proportion, height, entrance and directional expression of the building, and its adjacent structures. A building's sign shall be limited to identification of the business or establishment only, and shall not be used for advertising purposes.
(Ord. 9063/81. Passed 6-24-81.)