Athens Design Review Guidelines

Introduction: "The Athens Design Guidelines are intended to guide owners of properties within the locally designated historic district in the preservation and maintenance of the historic buildings. The Design Guidelines provide direction in appropriate rehabilitation practices when renovation practices when renovation or alteration is proposed. The Athens Historic Preservation Commission refers to the guidelines in reviewing the appropriateness of proposed changes. Cities and towns nationwide have adopted design guidelines that help historic zoning commissions and property owners preserve locally designated historic commercial and residential districts. The designation applies an 'overlay', an additional layer, to the base zoning type. The overlay requires that proposed changes to exteriors of historic buildings must be reviewed by the local historic zoning or preservation commission. In Athens, there is currently one historic overlay district located along the residential streets of Ingleside and Madison Avenues and adjacent blocks. The review requirement overlays the H-1 Historic Overlay District. The historic overlay district is not intended to stifle growth or evolution of the buildings within the district. Rather, they are intended to protect the district's unique historic character and acknowledge the city's cultural and architectural heritage. The downtown commercial area also contains a notable collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. This area is not currently designated as a historic district, therefore the design guidelines included in this manual are recommendations that may be followed on a voluntary basis. Property owners in the commercial district are encouraged to follow the design guidelines to preserve its historic character. The zoning regulations and district set forth in the guidelines have been made in accordance with a comprehensive plan for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, convenience order, prosperity, and general welfare of the City of Athens. The district and guidelines were created with consideration to the character of the district and its uses and with a view of conserving the utility of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land within the City of Athens. The architectural and historical resources of the city have also been the subject of a study by students from the Center of Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. This study included the survey of commercial, residential, and public buildings throughout downtown and the older residential neighborhoods. This survey will assist in future planning and identification of individual properties and districts which may meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places." Project funding was provided by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Tennessee Historical Commission administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P18AF00033).

Athens Design Review Guidelines

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