CitizensNet
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December 7, 2015
City seeks community participation to create historic preservation
design guidelines for Heights East, West and South Historic Districts
The City invites you to participate in the creation of historic preservation design guidelines for the Heights East, West and South Historic Districts. The first meeting is scheduled for:
Tuesday, December 8
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
1819 Heights Blvd., Houston 77008
5:30-7:30 p.m.
In historic districts, property owners are required to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) before they make certain changes to the exterior of their house or other building. New construction, demolition, restoration, or relocation of a structure also requires a COA.
Design guidelines provide helpful information to property owners who are planning changes to their property that would require a COA. Although each proposed project is unique and considered on its own merits, design guidelines include a list of potential changes that are likely to be approved, as well as those that are not likely to be approved. The list is accompanied by explanations, photographs, and illustrations to help reduce confusion. This information, when used during the planning phase of a project, can help property owners save time and money.
Design guidelines can also include suggestions for things that are not regulated, such as fences and paint colors, if property owners would find that information useful.
Once a historic district's design guidelines are adopted by City Council, the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission and the City's historic preservation staff use those design guidelines, along with the historic preservation ordinance, to review COA applications.
For more information about this project, call 832-393-6556 or visit the project website: https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/Design-Guidelines-Heights.html.
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