Several residents have expressed concern that historic district designation may impose a great financial burden on owners of deteriorating porches and other wooden details. After two lengthy meetings, last winter, the SDCC board decided that the goal of the historic district ordinance in Skinker-DeBaliviere, Parkview should be toward rehabilitation and conservation, not strict restoration.
Therefore, regarding the removal of details and porches, there was no intent to require replacement with exact replicas.
We believe that any misunderstanding is due to the wording of the proposed ordinance, and therefore recommend the following change:
“Renovations should not alter any existing window or door opening, or remove any columns, pediments, dormers, porches, bay windows or other important architectural features unless they are badly deteriorated, or unless the design of any new construction is compatible in scale, materials and color with existing features of the building and with adjacent historical structures.”
We hope this clarification allays the fear that living in the Skinker-DeBaliviereParkview historic district will necessarily cost more money. Although such designation should cause increasing awareness of the value of the architectural assets of our neighborhood it is felt that the imposition of strict restoration standards would be neither necessary nor appropriate here.
Historic District Committee—SDCC
Originally published in The Paper, October 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1976_10.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
