Fort Wood Historic District Guidelines

From introduction: "Chattanooga’s Fort Wood Historic District showcases Victorian residences as well as buildings in a wide variety of styles from around the turn of the century. From elegantly formal Colonial Revival mansions and expressive Queen Anne designs to the landmark Fort Wood Apartments and cozy vernacular cottages, these buildings express the grace and craftsmanship of past eras. This vibrant neighborhood is set on a sloping hillside next to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga campus. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a local historic district. Fort Wood has seen a resurgence of popularity and investment in recent years. This trend is consistent with numerous studies nationwide that have found greater rises in the value of properties in historic districts compared to properties not in historic districts. Neighborhood residents and the city have begun to take steps to ensure the preservation of Fort Wood’s distinctive architectural heritage. Design guidelines are an important part of this effort. In fact, the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Ordinance requires the use of design guidelines for each local historic district. Design guidelines give property owners, residents, contractors, and city officials guidance on how renovation and new construction work can be in keeping with the historic character of the district. The primary purpose is to prevent detrimental changes. Guidelines also can instill greater understanding of and appreciation for the elements that give the Fort Wood district its integrity. This handbook can express only general design principles. There is a great deal of variety within the Fort Wood Historic District, and the application of these guidelines can vary accordingly. Th e basic components of this handbook are 1) a framework for recognizing the important features of a building and its site and 2) the tools, the design guidelines, for maintaining these characteristics." Project funding was provided in part by a 2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Chattanooga (project number TN-13-023) administered by the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P13AF00110) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Chattanooga, Tennessee is a Certified Local Government.

Fort Wood Historic District Guidelines

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