DESIGN GUIDELINES

DESIGN Mississippi 33^ /13^590

Histo ric Na tch ez d e sig n G u id elin es

HISTORIC NATCHEZ DESIGN GUIDELINES Natchez, Mississippi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Historic Natchez Design Guidelines for Natchez, Mississippi were made possible by concerted efforts of the following groups and individuals.

CITY OF NATCHEZ Mayor: Larry L. ‘Butch’ Brown Board of Alderman: Joyce Arceneaux, George Harden, Sue Stedman, Theodore West, David Massey, Jake Middleton James Shelby - City Planner, Coordinator of the Certified Local Government Program David Preziosi - Historic Preservation Officer, Author and Editor

NATCHEZ PRESERVATION COMMISSION Robert Canon - Chairperson, Anne Allmand, Ruthie Cole, Tony DeAngelis, Ora Frazier, Frances Morris, Martha Seibert, Robert Dodson, Everette Truly

HISTORIC NATCHEZ FOUNDATION Ronald Miller, Mary Warren Miller

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY Michelle Weaver - State Coordinator of the Certified Local Government Program

This project has been funded with the assistance of a grant-in-aid from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, under the provision of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Historic Preservation grants-in-aid are administered in Mississippi in conjunction with the Certified Local Government program of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. However, the contents and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the National Park Service or the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. H ist o r ic N a t c h e z D e s ig n G u id e l in e s Resubmission of a Certificate of Appropriateness After Denial 25 CONTENTS Appeal of a Preservation Commission Decision 25 Introduction and General History Expiration of a Certificate of Introduction to the Design Guidelines 1 Appropriateness 25 Architectural Heritage of Natchez 2 Penalties for Not Obtaining a Certificate How to Use the Guidelines 16 of Appropriateness 26 Use of the Guidelines by the Natchez Frequently Asked Questions 26 Preservation Commission 17 Architectural Styles Preservation Practices House Types and Local Features 27 Introduction to Historic Preservation and Georgian 27 Rehabilitation 17 Federal 28 Secretary of Interior Standards 18 Greek Revival 28 Applying the Standards 19 Gothic Revival 29 Natchez Preservation Goals 20 Italianate 30 French Second Empire 30 Certifícate of Appropriateness Process Swiss 31 Introduction 21 Queen Anne 31 >NTENTS Preservation Commission 22 Shingle Style 32 Pre-Application Conference 22 Eastlake 32 Application Procedure 22 Romanesque Revival and Documentation Required 23 Richardson Romanesque 32 Steps for Obtaining a Certificate of Colonial Revival 33 Appropriateness 23 Second Renaissance Revival 34 Criteria for Issuing a Certificate of Beaux Arts Classicism 34 Appropriateness 24 Neo-Classicism 34 Approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness 25 Craftsman and Bungalow 35 Spanish Colonial Revival 35 h is t o r ic N a t c h e z D e s ig n G u id e l in e s and Art Moderne 36 Secretary of Interior Standards 52 Innovative Post World War II 36 Maintaining 53 Postmodern 36 Wood 54 Neo-Traditional 37 Secretary of Interior Standards 55 Maintaining Wood Siding and Elements 56 General Maintenance Substitute Siding 58 Maintenance and Inspection Checklist 37 Secretary of Interior Standards 58 Problems With Substitute Siding & Windows, Doors and Shutters Historic Structures 59 Windows 38 Approval of Substitute Siding 60 Secretary of Interior Recommendations 3 9 Installation of Substitute Siding 60 Repair 41 Crawl Space Enclosure 61 Replacement 42 Methods of Crawl Space Enclosure 61 New Window Openings 43 Storm Windows 44 Paint 62 Burglar Bars 45 Color 64 Doors 46 Placement 64 Maintaining/Repairing 46 Replacement 46 Roofs 65 Screen Doors 47 Secretary of Interior Standards 65 Storm Doors/Burglar Doors 47 Maintenance 66 Shutters 48 Replacement 67 Maintaining/Repairing 48 Replacement 48 Porches and Entrances 68 Secretary of Interior Standards 70 Siding and Crawl Space Enclosure Porches Masonry 48 Maintaining 70 Secretary of Interior Standards 50 Enclosing 70 Maintaining Masonry 50 Replacing Porch Components 71 Stucco 52 New Construction 72 Historic Natch ez De sig n G u id elin es Entrances 73 Appendix Glossary of Architectural Terms Additions 74 Resources Secretary of Interior Recommendations 74 Professional Sympathetic to Original Design 74 Technical Material/Publications Materials 75 Massing and Setbacks 75 SXN3XNOC Addition Design Recommendations 75 Modernization 76

New Construction 76 Sympathetic to Existing Neighborhood 77 Successful New Construction 77 New Construction Design Recommendations 79

Site Features and Landscaping 80 Paving/Driveways 81 Sidewalks 82 Landscaping 82 Site Features 83 Patios 84

Miscellaneous 84 Handicap Accessibility 85 Demolition 85 Relocation 86 Improving Energy Efficiency 87 Outbuildings 88 Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits 89 H ist o r ic N a t c h e z d e s ig n G u id e l in e s it than through the historic setting and buildings that are INTRODUCTION a part of that history. The Historic Natchez Design Guidelines are intended to Introduction assist property owners, architects, contractors, public Architectural Heritage of Natchez officials and the Natchez Preservation Commission dur­ How to Use the Guidelines ing the planning stage of rehabilitation/restoration pro­ Use of the guidelines by the Natchez Preservation Commission jects by providing general recommendations for physical changes to materials, details and features of historic resources in Natchez. The recommendations are consis­ INTRODUCTION tent with preservation principles established by the Secre­ tary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation while remain­ Over the past few decades Historic Preservation and Rehabilita­ ing specific to the conditions and characteristics of local tion of historic structures has grown in the United States as Natchez historical resources. Due to the overwhelming people have realized the value of historic structures as they importance of historic resources to Natchez history and contribute to the overall history of the community both economi­ our tourist economy, the design guidelines address exte­ cally and architecturally. Natchez has realized the splendor of its rior alterations only and are concerned with preserving historic architecture and many people have worked hard to the materials and features of those properties that con­ preserve its historic resources from shotgun structures, and tribute to the unique historical, architectural, and cultur­ ante-bellum homes and mansions, to Victorian residences and ally significant resources of Natchez. turn of the century commercial buildings. AJ1 of those structures have a place in the history of Natchez and should be preserved as The Natchez Preservation Commission is responsible for a visual record of the architectural and social history of the city. regulating rehabilitation and changes to historic proper­ Natchez is an extremely unique city in that it has vast and rich ties in Natchez. The commission will use these Design history and more importantly in that Natchez retains that history Guidelines and the Secretary of Interior Standards for in the many historic buildings throughout the city, not just in the Rehabilitation in the decision making process of what is downtown area. The historic buildings are a visual link to our appropriate and inappropriate for historic structures in INTRODUCTION past reminding all of us of the struggles, the growth, and he Natchez. Any changes to the exterior of an historic events that have built Natchez into the community it is today. resource in the Natchez Review District, or historic Natchez has a story to tell about its past and what better illustrate landmark outside the review district and within three