SEC. 6. FEATURES.
(a) Features of Existing Buildings.
1. Overall Form and Continuity. Building height is generally within a six-story range, and many of the oldest structures are one or two stories in height.
2. Scale and Proportion. The buildings are of typical warehouse design, large in bulk, often with large arches and openings originally designed for easy vehicular access. There is a
regularity of overall form. The earlier brick structures blend easily with the scaled-down Beaux Arts forms of the turn of the century and the plain reinforced concrete structures
characteristic of twentieth-century industrial architecture.
3. Fenestration. The earliest structures have few windows, expressing their warehouse function. They are varied in size, rhythmically spaced, deeply recessed, produce a strong
shadow line, and relate in shape and proportion to those in nearby buildings. Larger industrial sash windows began to be incorporated in structures built from the 1920s and onward. Door
openings are often massive to facilitate easy access of bulk materials.
4. Materials. Standard brick masonry is predominant for the oldest buildings in the district, with reinforced concrete introduced after the 1906 fire, although its widespread use did not
occur until the 1920s. Brick and stone paving treatments on Federal and First and De Boom Streets respectively are extant as well as Beltline Railroad Tracks which run throughout the
District.
5. Color. Red brick is typical, with some yellow and painted brick. Muted earth tones predominate in shades of red, brown, green, gray and blue.
6. Texture. Typical facing materials give a rough textured appearance. The overall texture of the facades is rough grained.
7. Detail. Arches are common at the ground floor, and are frequently repeated on upper floors. Flattened arches for window treatment are typical. Cornices are simple and generally
tend to be abstract versions of the more elaborate cornices found in downtown commercial structures from the nineteenth century. Most of the surfaces of the later buildings are plain and
simple reflecting their function. Some of the earlier brick work contains suggestions of pilasters, again highly abstracted. Where detail occurs, it is often found surrounding entryways.
(b) Standards for New Construction and Alterations.
1. Facade Line Continuity. Facade line continuity is historically appropriate. Therefore, setbacks at lower floors and arcades, not generally being features of the South End Historic
District, are generally not acceptable.
2. Fenestration and Design Elements for New Construction. In areas with a concentration of buildings characterized by a high proportion of mass to void and deeply recessed
openings, vertical orientation and limited fenestration, the design of new construction should relate to those elements. In areas characterized by buildings with industrial style fenestration,
new construction should relate to those design elements.
3. Signs.
(A) Principal Signs. Only one sign will be allowed per establishment per street frontage. A flush sign with lettering intended to be read from across the street is permitted. On brick
surfaces, signs should be mounted with a minimum number of penetrations of the wall, and those penetrations only in the mortar joints.
(B) Secondary Signs. One per establishment per street frontage. A secondary sign is intended to be viewed close-up and consists of: (a) Lettering on a door or window which
contains only the name and nature of the establishment, hours of operation and other pertinent information. (b) A projecting sign not exceeding two square feet in area used in conjunction
with a principal flush sign.
(c) Exterior Changes Requiring Approval. Any exterior change within the South End Historic District shall require a Certificate of Appropriateness pursuant to the provisions of
Article 10 when such work requires a city permit. In addition, a Certificate of Appropriateness shall be required for cleaning masonry surfaces with abrasives and/or treatment of such
surfaces with waterproofing chemicals. Sandblasting and certain chemical treatments detrimental to older brick will not be approved.
(Added by Ord. 104-90, App. 3/23/90)