Historical Winter 2003 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Nearly all of the property in Skinker DeBaliviere, including the commercial property on Delmar Boulevard, falls within the boundaries of the Skinker DeBaliviere/ Catlin Tract/Parkview City Historic District.
The boundaries are, roughly, Lindell to the south, the City Limits in Parkview to the west, Delmar to the north and DeBaliviere to the east.
These buildings are nearly all between seventy-five and nearly one hundred years old.
They are standing because over the years, owners have taken pride in caring to maintain and repair their properties.
We no have this privilege and responsibility passed on to us. What we do with these houses will allow neighbors well into the 21st century to enjoy the District’s outstanding early twentieth century architecture.
In order to assure that repairs, alterations, demolitions and new construction are done in a manner which enhances the character of our buildings, this neighborhood was designated a historic district in 1978.
This means that most exterior work must have permits. Permits in all city historic districts fall under the authority of the Cultural Resource Office (CRO).
While at times, owners may find the extra responsibility of owning a historic building a burden, the added effort pays off in increased property values and a sense of community pride. Why Do I Need a Permit?
In this District, there are two kinds of permits.
A building permit is required when any structural change, major alteration, demolition or new construction is planned.
This permit is reviewed by the Building Division and by the Cultural Resource Office.
In addition, Items in the following list require CRO-only permits.
The Cultural Resource Office is primarily concerned with any work which is visible from the street.
Some examples are: • Replacement of windows and doors • Gutters and downspouts • Exterior painting of previously unpainted masonry (brick and stone) • Repair, replacement or covering of decorative trim • Replacement of features such as porch railings, balustrades, and balconies • Roofs • Awnings and canopies • Retaining walls and walkways • Fences One way to judge if what you are doing will need one or the other kind of permit is to consider if the work will be permanent. For instance, the front gable on your house is stucco and wood.
Some of the wood is a little rotten and it all needs painting.
If you want to repair the wood and paint, you don’t need a permit.
If you want to cover the gable with siding of any kind, you do. What Standards Are Used? Generally, materials and architectural styles original to the neighborhood are what should be used. Modern materials such as vinyl, aluminum, cast stone or brick may or may not be permitted.
The replacement of windows is a major issue; the Cultural Resource Office is developing a brochure on what is permitted.
If there are questions about any work, please call the Cultural Resource Office at 622- 3400 or the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council at 862-5122. both offices can provide you with copies of the ordinance, which includes the neighborhood’s standards.
The neighborhood Historic District Review Committee meets on a regular basis and is happy to review any plans and help with the permit process in any way. Where Do I Get a Building or CRO-Only Permit? Applications can be made in person at the Building Division – Permit Section, Room 425, City Hall.
The application can be made by the Owner, Registered Design Professional or the Contractor.
It is, however, the Owner’s responsibility to see that a building permit is issued and posted on the job site before work begins.
In the case of a CRO-only permit, the Building Division automatically refers the applicant to a member of the CRO staff who is on hand to approve the application. Only if the proposed work does not follow the Standards is the application held for further staff review. Almost all permits are issued the day application is made.
A minimum of two photographs of the site must be included with the application.
A site plan may also be requested. Cost estimates of the work are required. How Much Do the Permits Cost? CRO-only permits are $9.00 for any work from $1.00 to $2,500 and $24 for jobs exceeding $2,500. Building permits cost an additional $6.50 per $1.000 of construction expense. What Happens if I Do Not Get the Necessary Permit?
If work is done without a permit, a stop-work order will be issued.
The owner then has to go through the necessary steps to obtain a permit.
If the work meets Historic district standards, work can proceed.
In a case where it does not meet standards, the work may have to be undone and correctly redone. Failure to obtain the necessary building permits may result in prosecution in the Housing Court with a maximum fine of $500.00 plus court costs and/or imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days. Failure to obtain the necessary building permits may result in prosecution in the Housing Court with a maximum fine of $500.00 plus court costs and/or imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days. For further information regarding the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, go to our website at http:\\stlouis.missouri.org\and then select neighborhoods, then choose neighborhood 46 on the map. Scroll down on the sidebar to make specific selections. Our Historic District ordinance can be found on this website. For further information from the Cultural Resource Office, go to http:\\stlous.missouri.org\citygov\planning\heritage\.
This summary is not intended to constitute a comprehensive description of the legal requirements that may apply to any given situation. Accordingly, any reliance on this summary is expressly disclaimed. You are advised to consult the applicable codes and government officials to fully evaluate your situation.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Winter 2003.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2003_11.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
