Historic District Design Guidelines
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Yonkers Historic Design Guidelines City of Yonkers, New York Prepared by Yonkers Historic Stephen Tilly, Architect Design Guidelines 22 Elm Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 City of Yonkers, NY 914-693-8898 www.stillyarchitect.com Stephen Tilly, Principal Margaret Gaertner, Preservation Specialist Elizabeth Martin, Landscape Designer Prentice Clark, Administrative Assistant Michelle Carroll, Staff Alison Napoli, Staff For the City of Yonkers 40 South Broadway Yonkers, NY 10701 Philip A. Amicone, Mayor Lee Ellman, Planning Director Mario Caruso, Principal Planner And the City of Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board Tom Flynn, Vice Chairman Terrence Price Mieke Armstrong Jack Prill Patricia Bu� on Adina Taylor James Letsen Nell Twining July 6, 2005 All photographs © Stephen Tilly, Architect except where otherwise noted. Table of Contents Page Number Neighborhood Histories 2-3 Part 1: Styles What Style is My House? 4-5 Mid-19TH Century Styles 6-9 Late Queen Anne / Shingle Style 10-13 Colonial Revival 14-17 Tudor Revival 18-21 French Norman Revival 22-25 Italian Renaissance Revival 26-29 Part 2: Design Guidelines Design Guidelines for Historic Houses in Yonkers 30-33 Roof Guidelines & Roof Glossary 34-35 Window Guidelines & Window Glossary 36-39 Choosing Shu� ers & Shu� er Glossary 40-41 Color Schemes for Historic Houses 42-43 Modern Conveniences 44-45 Landscape Design Guidelines 46-49 Appendix A: Glossary of Architectural Terms 50-54 Appendix B: The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation 55 Appendix C: Hiring an Architect 56-57 Appendix D: Hiring a Contractor 58-59 Appendix E: Historic Landmarks and Districts in Yonkers 60-61 Appendix F: Sources for Additional Information 62-65 Appendix G: Restoration Products and Contractors 66-67 Stephen Tilly, Architect Historic District Design Guidelines City of Yonkers, NY 1 Neighborhood Histories Halcyon Place The Halcyon Place Historic District includes sixteen architecturally and historically signifi cant properties dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the early years of the twentieth century. Together, these properties refl ect the transformation of Yonkers from its mid-nineteenth century importance as an industrial center to its later role as a suburban community. Distinctive examples of a broad range of architectural styles survive intact and illustrate changing ideas about the form and function of the suburban house as well as the tastes and prosperity of local citizens. The properties included in the Halcyon Place Historic District constitute a planned, early twentieth century suburban development. As a residential area which possesses integrity of location, design, se� ing, workmanship and association, the Halcyon Place Historic District a� ests to the regional prominence which has characterized Yonkers since its fi rst se� lement. In addition, a number of properties are associated with distinguished persons who made signifi cant contributions to the history and development of Westchester County. - adapted from the Halcyon Place Application for Landmarking and Historic Districting, courtesy of the Yonkers Planning Bureau Cedar Knolls The Cedar Knolls Historic District is a suburban, residential subdivision of winding streets and striking single-family homes. The main entrance is at the intersection of Pondfi eld Road West and Dellwood Road. These two roads, along with Birch Brook Road, form both the boundaries and main arteries within the neighborhood. Although one can enter or leave Cedar Knolls in four places via cross streets at the perimeter, the district’s self-contained layout creates a secluded community with its own separate sense of place. The meandering, curving roads of Cedar Knolls helped to establish its inward orientation, emphasized by an earlier sign reading “Cedar Knolls, no outlet” at the entrance. This internal focus was a refl ection of the planning concepts of the early twentieth century, when suburbs were meant to provide a country-like and private retreat from urban, worldly activities such as work and commerce. The relatively large lot size, substantial setbacks, and lack of sidewalks and porches all refl ected the preoccupation with the automobile which downplayed the role of pedestrian traffi c. Historic District Design Guidelines Stephen Tilly, Architect 2 City of Yonkers, NY The Cedar Knolls district is visually unifi ed by the styles of its residences as well as the similar scale, massing, materials and setbacks of the buildings. All contributing properties were built as private single-family homes designed for middle-class owners in a period of about thirty years, between 1913 and 1945. At this time, the typical suburban dwelling was conceived in a period revival style. The houses of Cedar Knolls conformed to this trend and were executed in a variety of period revival styles, most notably the Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival. However, the French Norman Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, and Mediterranean Colonial Revival are also represented. Most of the residences survive in their original condition; there has been very li� le alteration such as modern siding or windows which might compromise the original features. While the overall appearance of the structures is consistent, individual detailing varies widely, lending architectural interest to the streetscapes. Certain elements observed on many of the houses, such as entry details, surface material, and massing of bow windows, refl ect the hand of a single builder or architect who may have contributed to their design. This shared origin enhances the architectural integrity of the homes in Cedar Knolls. The few buildings which do not conform to the overall pa� ern are not great enough in number to distract from the cohesive appearance of the district. Cedar Knolls is unique in Yonkers. The most comparable neighborhood, the nearby Lawrence Park West, was developed simultaneously but diff ers from Cedar Knolls in that its houses tended to be on a grander scale. The houses of Cedar Knolls demonstrate excellent workmanship and design as well as remarkable historic integrity. The neighborhood is one of few in Westchester, and the only such in Yonkers, which survives with such a high degree of unity and cohesiveness. Consequently, the Cedar Knolls Historic District is both architecturally and historically signifi cant as a revealing, intact example of early twentieth century residential planning concepts and architectural fashions as executed for middle-class suburban property owners. - adapted from the Cedar Knolls Colony Historic District Application, courtesy of the Yonkers Planning Bureau Stephen Tilly, Architect Historic District Design Guidelines City of Yonkers, NY 3 This manual includes information on the historic house styles found in the Halcyon Place and Cedar What style is my house? Knolls neighborhoods: Mid-19th Century Styles such as Gothic Revival and Italianate, Late Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, French Norman Revival, and Italian Renaissance Revival. Classifying buildings by their architectural styles can be a challenge, as few houses clearly and neatly fall into a single category. Styles are not defi nite – one style does not instantly disappear when a new one develops; instead, styles fl ow and overlap. A house may appear to be designed in a distinct style, but closer inspection reveals that it has details borrowed from another. Many of the houses on Halcyon Place are identifi ed as Late Queen Anne. However, homeowners may feel that their shingle siding suggests Shingle Style – and some style guides would agree! – while classical details such as columns, dentil moldings and cornices suggest Colonial Revival. These houses probably should be considered to be a happy collision of all three styles. There are also subcategories within the major styles which can cause further confusion. For example your Dutch Colonial Revival will have li� le in common with your neighbor’s Georgian Revival, although both fall into the Colonial Revival group. Style guides may also use diff erent names from those listed here. Some guides refer to Tudor as Elizabethan or Jacobean, while French Norman Revival may be called French Eclectic or simply French Revival. Any of these designations may be appropriate for a residence in Cedar Knolls. Remembering these points is important as one consults the various style guides referred to in this manual. Source: Mark Short Above le� : The complicated massing and roofl ines say Queen Anne, while Classical elements such as the grouped Ionic columns add Colonial Revival details. Above: This Colonial Revival has classical elements such as balustrades and columns supporting a porch roof, while the clay tile roof and open piazza add a Mediterranean touch. Historic District Design Guidelines Stephen Tilly, Architect 4 City of Yonkers, NY The high, steep hipped roof suggests French Norman, the diagonal brick “nogging” feels Tudor, and the half- timbering could go either way...but the cross-gable that dominates the façade and identifi es the entrance pushes this house into the Tudor Revival group. Further reading... John Milnes Baker. American House Styles: A Concise Guide. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1994. This guide includes many more styles than most and breaks them down into more specifi c groups. Entries are shorter than those in other books. John J. G. Blumenson. Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms: 1600-1945. Nashville, TN: American Association for State and Local History, 1982. Most useful