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Town of Georgetown Design Guidelines

Book II: Design Review in Georgetown

• buildings aligned at the sidewalk edge
• two-story, traditional commercial buildings
• mix of wood and masonry construction
• transparent ground floor with smaller windows "punched" into predominantly solid upper floors
• predominantly flat-roof buildings, although gabled buildings with false fronts existed

• To preserve all historic buildings that significantly contribute to the integrity of the town (e.g., This is especially important as new development occurs.)
• When needed, to develop additions to historic buildings that are compatible in size, form, materials and design
• To continue the use of traditional building materials found in the area
• To maintain the traditional mass, size and form of buildings seen along the street (e.g., A new building should be a rectangular mass that is one- or two-stories in height, as seen from the street; whereas, taller portions may be set back from the front of a building.)
• To design new commercial buildings with storefront elements similar to those seen historically but without direct imitation of historic details (e.g., A commercial building should include: recessed entries, display windows, kickplates, transom windows, midbelt cornices, cornices or pediments and vertically-oriented upper-story windows.)
• To design new construction that reinforces the retail-oriented function of the street and enhances its pedestrian character
• To promote friendly, walkable streets (e.g., Projects that support pedestrian activity and contribute to the quality of life are encouraged.)
• To provide site amenities-such as benches, lights, waste receptacles, landscaping, etc.-to enhance the pedestrian experience.
• To reduce the visual impacts of service areas, utilities, mechanical equipment and the automobile (e.g., Such areas should, at a minimum, be appropriately landscaped or screened from view.)
• To minimize the amount of light spill from a structure

• Building mass, size and form
• Setting
• Building features
  

1. Mass and Size

Patterns are created along the street by the repetition of similarly-sized building elements. For example, uniform facade widths evenly spaced along Sixth Street create a rhythm that contributes to the visual continuity of the district. At a smaller size, the repetition of upper-story windows across most building fronts also creates a unifying effect. These features and similar patterns are some of the most important characteristics of Historic Commercial Character Area and should be respected in all rehabilitation and new construction.

A. Maintain the average perceived size of two-story buildings at the sidewalk.

1. New construction should present a tall one-story or two-story facade at the front property line.
2. Facade heights of new buildings should fall within the established range of the block, and respect the historic proportions of height to width.
3. Floor-to-floor heights should appear similar to those of historic buildings in the area.

B. Traditional spacing patterns created by the repetition of uniform building widths along streets must be maintained.

1. No facade should exceed 50 feet without a clear expression of this standard module.
2. Where a building must exceed this width, use a change in design features to suggest the traditional building widths. Changes in facade material, window design, facade height or decorative details are examples of techniques that may be considered. These variations should be expressed through the structure such that the composition appears to be a collection of smaller building modules.

2. Building and Roof Form

One of the most prominent unifying elements of Sixth Street is the similarity in building form. Commercial buildings were simple rectangular solids, deeper than they were wide. This characteristic is important and should be continued in new projects.

A. Rectangular forms should be dominant on commercial facades.

1. Rectangular forms should be vertically oriented.
2. The facade should appear as predominantly flat, with any decorative elements and projecting or setback "articulations" appearing to be subordinate to the dominant form.

B. Use flat roof lines as the dominant roof form.

1. Gabled roofs may also be used if a false front or parapet with horizontal emphasis obscures it.
2. Parapets on side facades should step down towards the rear of the building.

C. Along rear facades, a building form should step down in size, and not be a continuous two- or three-story facade plane.

1. This is especially encouraged when rear areas are anticipated to have pedestrian activity.
2. Consider using additive forms, such as sheds, stairs and decks. These forms must, however, remain subordinate to the primary structure.
3. Use projecting roofs at the ground floor over entrances, decks and separate utility structures to establish a human scale that invites pedestrian activity.

3. Building Setbacks

Buildings create a strong edge to the street because they traditionally aligned on the front lot line and were usually built out the full width of the parcel to the side lot lines. Although small gaps do occur between some structures, they are the exception. These characteristics are vitally important to the historic integrity of the district and should be preserved.

A. Maintain the alignment of facades at the sidewalk's edge.

1. Placing the facade of the building at the property line is required by the zoning ordinance and should be modified only in special circumstances.
2. Locating entire building fronts behind the established storefront line is inappropriate.

4. Recessed Entries

Most primary entrances to commercial buildings are recessed, providing a shaded area that helps to define doorways and to provide shelter to pedestrians. The repetition of this feature along the street contributes to the traditional or human scale of the area, and should be continued in future projects. Entrance doors were traditionally topped with transom windows that extend the vertical emphasis of these openings.

A. Maintain the pattern created by recessed entryways.

1. Set the door back from the front facade an adequate amount to establish a distinct threshold for pedestrians. A recessed dimension of four feet is typical.
2. Where entries are recessed, the building line at the sidewalk edge should be maintained by the upper floor(s).
3. Use transoms over doorways to maintain the full vertical height of the storefront.
4. Oversized (or undersized) interpretations are discouraged.

5. Preservation of Commercial Storefronts

Many storefronts in Georgetown have components seen traditionally on commercial buildings. The repetition of these standard elements creates a visual unity on the street that should be preserved. While it is important that new buildings be compatible with the historic context, it is not necessary that they imitate other historic commercial storefronts. In fact, stylistically distinguishing new buildings from their older neighbors is preferred, when the overall design reinforces traditional development patterns.

A. Preserve the historic character of a storefront, when it is intact.

1. This will help maintain the interest of the street to pedestrians.
2. If the storefront glass is intact, it should be preserved.

B. If a storefront is altered, restoring it to the original design is preferred.

1. If evidence of the original design is missing, use a simplified interpretation of similar storefronts. The storefront still should be designed to provide interest to pedestrians.
2. Historic photographs of Georgetown and its buildings are widely available and should be used when determining the original character of a storefront design.

C. Where an original storefront is missing, and no evidence of its character exists, an alternative design is appropriate.

1. An alternative storefront design must continue to convey the characteristics of typical storefronts, including the transparent character of the display window, a recessed entry and cornices, to name a few.
2. Note that in some cases, an original storefront may have been altered early in the history of the building and taken on significance. Such changes should be preserved.

D. New interpretations of traditional building styles are encouraged in new construction projects.

1. A new design that draws upon the fundamental similarities among older buildings in the area without copying them is preferred. This will allow them to be seen as products of their own time, yet be compatible with their historic neighbors.
2. The literal imitation of older historic styles is discouraged.
3. In essence, infill should be a balance of new and old in design.

6. New Storefront Character

The street level floors of traditional Georgetown commercial buildings are clearly distinguishable from the upper floors. First floors are predominantly fixed plate glass with a small percentage of opaque materials. Upper floors are the reverse-opaque materials dominate, and windows appear as smaller openings puncturing the solid walls. These windows are usually double-hung. The street level is generally taller than the upper floors. Store fronts of 12 to 14 feet high are typical, whereas second floors of 10 to 12 feet are typical. This typical storefront character should be maintained.

A. Maintain the traditional spacing pattern created by upper story windows.

1. Maintain the historic proportions of windows.
2. Headers and sills of windows on new buildings should maintain the traditional placement relative to cornices and belt courses.

B. Maintain the distinction between the street level and the upper floor.

1. The first floor of the primary facade should be predominantly transparent glass.
2. Upper floors should be perceived as being more opaque than the lower floor.
3. Highly reflective or darkly tinted glass is inappropriate.
4. Express the traditional distinction in floor heights between street levels and upper levels through detailing, materials and fenestration. The presence of a belt course is an important feature in this relationship.

C. To avoid confusion with historic structures, new construction should indicate the date of construction.

7. Detail Alignment

A strong alignment of horizontal elements exists that reinforces the low, one- and two-story size of buildings. Alignment is seen at the first floor level with moldings that are found at the top of display windows; at upper floor levels, alignment is found among cornices, window sills and headers. This alignment of horizontal features on building facades is one of the strongest characteristics of the street and should be preserved. It is important to note, however, that slight variations do occur, which add visual interest. Major deviations from these relationships, however, disrupt the visual continuity of the street and are to be avoided.

A. The general alignment of horizontal features on building fronts must be maintained.

1. Typical elements that align include: window moldings, tops of display windows, cornices, copings and parapets at the tops of buildings.
2. When large buildings are designed to appear as several buildings, there should be some slight variation in alignments between the facade elements.
   

8. Corner Lots

Many buildings on corner lots exhibit special features that add accent to both Sixth Street and the crossing streets. Corner entrances, towers and storefront windows that extend along both street facades are examples. These elements are appropriate in many corner lot locations and should be encouraged. These locations often served as focal points for public activity and therefore sitting areas and other gathering spots are appropriate. The architectural designs for corner lots should encourage such activities.

A. Maintain the clear distinction between the primary facade and the side of the building, when sides are visible, such as on corner lots.

1. Traditionally, storefront windows at the first floor turned the corner, with one or two storefront windows on each side of the building.
2. Sides of buildings generally had fewer windows and simpler detailing.

B. Special features that highlight buildings on corner lots may be considered.

1. Develop both street elevations to provide visual interest to pedestrians.
2. Corner entrances, bay windows and towers are examples of elements that may be considered to emphasize corner locations.
3. Storefront windows, display cases and other elements that provide visual entrances to facades along side streets are also appropriate.

9. Third Stories on Storefront Buildings

Traditionally, most commercial storefronts in this area were one- or two-stories in height and, while each block contained a mix of these heights, an overall sense of unity in size was established. In a few cases, however, a new building may rise to three stories. While this exception should not become the rule, the Design Review Commission may, on a case-by-case basis, approve a third story incorporated into a storefront type building.

A. If a new three-story building is proposed, the third story should appear as a subordinate "addition" to a two-story building.

1. The third floor should be set back substantially from the sidewalk edge such that the building will appear to be one or two stories in height as seen from across the street.
2. Setback third floors should be designed to appear as an addition to the rear of the structure. Materials and details should be simpler than those of the primary facade.
3. In a project that incorporates more than one lot, the third-story element should not dominate the overall composition. One- and two-story facades should be dominant.

B. A true three-story facade in new construction may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

1. The height, proportions and placement of all facade components must appear to be in scale with all nearby buildings.

10. Site Furniture

Site furnishings, including bicycle racks, waste receptacles and light standards, are features of contemporary life in Georgetown. Few of these elements appeared historically in the community and it is important that the character of these elements not impede one's ability to interpret the historic character of the area.

A. Site furniture should be simple in character.

1. Avoid any highly ornate design that would misrepresent the history of the area.
2. Benches, bike racks and trash receptacles are examples of site furnishings that may be considered.
3. In public open spaces within a project, trash and recycling receptacles should be placed near seating areas and at points of entry.

B. Site lighting within a project should not detract from the historic character of Georgetown.

1. Simple new designs are appropriate.
2. Historic styles that are out of character with the history of Georgetown are inappropriate because they could misrepresent the heritage of the community.
3. The location and spacing of lights should be similar to those existing in the area.

Book 2 Chapter 1 | Book 2 Chapter 3