Style Weekly has a short look into the ongoing conversation regarding appropriate development in a historic district:
Guidelines for historic districts prohibit new construction or additions from mimicking the historic look of an area. The approach is to make such new construction appears modern instead of faux historical.
Daab, a Church Hill resident, says such an approach could dilute historic districts by overwhelming them with modern architecture. The guidelines should be changed, she says, before new construction dramatically alters treasured historic city neighborhoods such as Church Hill, Jackson Ward and Shockoe Slip.
Previously:
- Contrast vs continuity for new development in historic communities (11/8/09)
- A petition on new development in Richmond Old & Historic Districts (9/29/09)
- What is appropriate in an Old & Historic District? (3/3/09)
- Are historic standards destroying historic districts? (1/16/09)
- 2 houses for Pink Street (7/16/08)
- A proposal to revisit new construction in Old&Historic districts (6/1/08)
5 comments
at least builders in richmond don’t have to wear period costume or speak in antebellum dialect while they work in historic districts. plus they get to use electricity. on another note, maybe richmond historic districts could strike a reality show deal with mtv & drop out of ‘this modern life’ altogether. burn coal. chew tobacco. sweep dung to the curb. y’know.
From the Style article: “Councilman Bruce Tyler is leading a task force reviewing the city’s guidelines for preservation in old and historic districts. The group is soliciting public comment on possible changes to the guidelines.”
Agree or disagree, Tell Tyler. Contact information http://www.richmondgov.com/citizen/city_gov/district1/biography.aspx and email
Bruce.Tyler@Richmondgov.com .
Bruce spent many years living in Church Hill on the 2800 block of East Grace.
He moved to the near west end to be closer to the schools his kids attended.
His wife bought the crack den known as the Rendezvous and created the Hill Cafe.
I’m sure he will take all concerns into consideration.
#1, I understand that there is a proposal that all O & H District projects are required to retrofit outhouses and have servants’ quarters in the rear, to maintain historical authenticity
Bruce Tyler is saintly, and I am sure he will serve well as the arbiter of all and all aesthetic issues you may have. You need not worry. Hell, you need not even think. We should just wait for the word to come down from the near west end.