The City of Chattanooga has released a drafted update to its Historic District Guidelines + is seeking input from residents before presenting the new document to the Historic Zoning Commission and City Council.
While we encourage folks to take the time to skim through the full 186-page document — which covers an overview of designation + guidelines for aspects like roofing, exteriors, and signage — we’re highlighting some of the sections we think our readers would be most interested in.
Section 2, p. 21-30 | Historic properties
This section highlights Chattanooga’s four historic neighborhoods: Battery Place, Ferger Place, Fort Wood + St. Elmo and local landmark, the Shavin House — where you can read a breakdown of the history, types of landscapes, building typologies, commercial usage, and more.
Section 3, p. 31-48 | Architectural styles
Chattanooga was primarily built around three major architectural styles (which all held their own subsets) — this section identifies glossary terms + characteristics common with our historic buildings like:
- Late 19th Century, Victorian Era | Steep-pitched roofs, gabled dormers, brick chimneys, towers, asymmetrical facades, patterned shingles, wrap-around porches
- Early 20th Century, Eclectic + Early Modern Era | Moderate-to high-pitched roof, wood shingles, symmetrical facade, unfinished masonry, Palladian windows, brick or stone foundation
- Mid-Century, Modern Era | Broad roof lines, skylights, stucco facades, unadorned windows, stoop or decks
Section 11, p. 145-164 | Additions, new construction + demolition
These guidelines provide best practices for keeping the historic look + feel of a place, whether that be one of the neighborhoods deemed a historic district or an older building. You might remember us sharing Preserve Chattanooga’s advocacy alert for this exact topic.
In a quick overview of this section, readers will find appropriate scaling of new construction and additions, guidance on sourcing similar materials that match the architectural styles that exist in the space + what is labeled as an “inappropriate option.”
The document also states demolition should always be thought of as a last resort — providing a baseline of considerations + noting all interested parties and advocacy groups have the right to negotiate with the owner for alternative options. Think: Public safety, loss of historical value, etc.
The public comment form is open now through Tuesday, March 4 with spaces to provide comments on each individual section of the Historic District Guidelines.
