OLD TOWN FERNANDINA PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE PRESERVATION INSTITUTE: CARIBBEAN CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT UPDATED BY THOMASON AND ASSOCIATES 2013 OLD TOWN FERNANDINA PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES This publication has been financed in part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, administered through the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historical Commission. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Department of the Interior or the Florida Department of State, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Florida Department of State. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or sexual orientation in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, U. S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 PLAT OF OLD TOWN FERNANDINA BEACH, 1811 ............................................................................... 3 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 4 SUSTAINABILITY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ............................................................................ 5 CHAPTER 1 - HISTORICAL OVERVIEW .................................................................................................. 8 1.1 “Law of the Indies” and the Grid Pattern of Old Town.................................................................... 9 1.2 Old Town—The Importance of Place ............................................................................................ 11 1.3 Old Town Development—Blocks and Lots ................................................................................... 12 1.4 Old Town Development, Peonia and Media Peonias ..................................................................... 14 1.5 Building Construction in Old Town ............................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2 - EXISTING CONDITIONS .................................................................................................. 20 2.1 Land Use ........................................................................................................................................ 21 2.2 Privacy and Community ................................................................................................................. 23 2.3 Vehicle Pathways ........................................................................................................................... 24 2.4 Trees and Fences ............................................................................................................................ 26 2.5 Scale and Detail ............................................................................................................................. 27 CHAPTER 3– DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS ..................................................... 29 3.1 General Approach to Building Rehabilitation ................................................................................ 30 3.2 Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation .................................................................. 31 3.3 General Approach to Building Rehabilitation ................................................................................ 32 3.4 Protect and Maintain ...................................................................................................................... 32 3.5 Repair ............................................................................................................................................. 32 3.6 Replace ........................................................................................................................................... 32 3.7 Design for Missing Historic Features ............................................................................................. 32 3.8 Alteration and Additions to Historic Buildings .............................................................................. 33 3.9 Contributing Versus Non-Contributing Buildings ......................................................................... 34 3.10 Design Guidelines for Contributing Buildings ............................................................................. 35 3.11 Relocating Buildings .................................................................................................................... 46 3.12 Demolition ................................................................................................................................... 47 3.13 Accessibility ................................................................................................................................. 49 CHAPTER 4 - DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION..................................................... 50 4.1 The Importance of Building Setting and Placement ....................................................................... 51 4.2 General Approach to New Residential Construction ..................................................................... 52 4.3 Building Elements .......................................................................................................................... 52 4.4 Residential Building Design........................................................................................................... 54 4.5 Lot Visibility Corridors .................................................................................................................. 61 4.6 Frontage Corridors ......................................................................................................................... 61 4.7 Side-Yard Corridors ....................................................................................................................... 62 4.8 Mid-Lot Corridors .......................................................................................................................... 62 4.9 Extensions into Visibility Corridors ............................................................................................... 63 4.10 Lot Density ................................................................................................................................... 64 4.11 General Approach to New Commercial Construction .................................................................. 66 CHAPTER 5 - SETTING AND LANDSCAPE............................................................................................ 67 5.1 Fences, Walls, and Hedges ............................................................................................................. 68 5.2 Parking ........................................................................................................................................... 69 5.3 Protected and Heritage Trees ......................................................................................................... 70 5.4 Public Streetscape .......................................................................................................................... 70 5.5 Bosque Bello Cemetery .................................................................................................................. 71 5.6 Maintaining and Repairing the Grid ............................................................................................... 72 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………………………….77 Appendix A– Technical Definitions…………………………………………………………………...77 1 Appendix B– Glossary of Terms………………………………………………………………………79 PREFACE The material contained in rized in the bibliography for and opinions do not necessarily this document has been devel- those interested in further reflect the views or policies of oped by the faculty and stu- research on the issues raised in the Department of the Interior. dents of the Preservation Insti- this document. tute: Caribbean, a program of The Preservation Institute: the College of Architecture at Caribbean (PI:C) is dedicated 1999 Project Director the University of Florida, in to the conservation of the cul- William L. Tilson cooperation with the City of tural traditions of the Greater D i r e c t or , Pr e s e r va t i o n Fernandina Beach Community Caribbean Basin as expressed Institute: Caribbean Development Department. We through its architecture, land- College of Architecture wish to thank Community Uni ve r s i t y of Fl or i da scape and urban centers. PI:C Gainesville,