HOUSTON HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICTS DESIGN GUIDELINES City of Houston, Texas Public Review Draft #2: August 7, 2017 NOTE These design guidelines were prepared pursuant to the direction given by the City Council of the City of Houston by Ordinance No. 2016-848, and have been prepared in accordance with the authority granted to the City of Houston under the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of the public. CONTACT INFORMATION Physical Address (with appointment): Historic Preservation Office City of Houston Planning Department 611 Walker Street, 6th Floor Houston, Texas 77002 Phone: 832-393-6556 Email: [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: Introduction ............................................................................................ 1-1 About the Design Guidelines.......................................................................................................1-2 Houston’s Historic Preservation Ordinance ................................................................................1-6 Exemptions (No COA Required) .................................................................................................1-8 Administrative Approvals ............................................................................................................1-9 Mandatory Approvals for Additions .........................................................................................1-11 Other Alterations and Additions (Contributing Structures) ....................................................1-13 Context Area ..............................................................................................................................1-14 Criteria for Changes to Noncontributing Structures ...............................................................1-15 New Construction .......................................................................................................................1-17 Relocation ..................................................................................................................................1-19 Demolition ...................................................................................................................................1-21 Section 2: Preservation Fundamentals .................................................................. 2-1 Key Historic Preservation Concepts ............................................................................................2-2 Significance ............................................................................................................................................. 2-2 Integrity ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-4 Period of Significance ............................................................................................................................. 2-5 Contributing and Noncontributing Classifications .............................................................................. 2-5 Character-Defining Features ................................................................................................................. 2-6 Mass, Form, and Scale ........................................................................................................................... 2-8 Alternative Treatments for Historic Resources .................................................................................... 2-11 Preferred Sequence of Work ................................................................................................................ 2-12 Benefits of Historic Preservation ................................................................................................2-13 Quality of Life ......................................................................................................................................... 2-13 Promotes Economic Sustainability ...................................................................................................... 2-14 Promotes Environmental Sustainability .............................................................................................. 2-16 Section 3: About The Historic Districts .................................................................... 3-1 The History of Houston Heights ....................................................................................................3-2 Significant Buildings and Sites ................................................................................................................ 3-4 Original Character and Changes Over Time ...................................................................................... 3-7 Designation of the Houston Heights Historic Districts ................................................................3-8 Houston Heights East ............................................................................................................................... 3-8 Houston Heights West ............................................................................................................................. 3-9 Houston Heights South ............................................................................................................................ 3-9 Architectural Styles in the Districts ....................................................................................................... 3-10 Craftsman ............................................................................................................................................. 3-10 Queen Anne .......................................................................................................................................... 3-12 Transitional Architecture ....................................................................................................................... 3-12 Folk National and Folk Victorian .......................................................................................................... 3-14 Commercial and Institutional Buildings .............................................................................................. 3-14 Objects and Sites .................................................................................................................................. 3-14 District Maps ........................................................................................................................................... 3-15 Section 4: Changes to Existing Buildings ............................................................... 4-1 Architectural Elements .................................................................................................................4-2 Historic Building Materials ............................................................................................................4-3 Wood ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-5 Historic Masonry ....................................................................................................................................... 4-7 Historic Metals .......................................................................................................................................... 4-9 Alternative Materials ............................................................................................................................. 4-10 Parts of a Building .......................................................................................................................4-11 Siding ...................................................................................................................................................... 4-11 Windows ................................................................................................................................................. 4-13 Doors ....................................................................................................................................................... 4-18 Porches ................................................................................................................................................... 4-22 Accessibility ............................................................................................................................................ 4-26 Building Foundations ............................................................................................................................ 4-27 Historic Shutters ...................................................................................................................................... 4-29 Awnings .................................................................................................................................................. 4-30 Burglar Bars ............................................................................................................................................ 4-31 Roofs ....................................................................................................................................................... 4-32 Dormers .................................................................................................................................................. 4-35 Chimneys ...............................................................................................................................................