Monroe Design Guidelines

Purpose of the Design Guidelines: "The purpose of the South Monroe Historic District Design Guidelines is to encourage the preservation of historic structures through the use of rehabilitation techniques that are economical yet do not sacrifice the historic architectural features that define the historic district. Through historic district overlay zoning, the South Monroe Historic District is protected from unmanaged change by a design review process based on established design guidelines. These guidelines will be used by the Historic District Commission and City of Monroe staff in reviewing proposed rehabilitation plans and when considering applications for Certificates of Appropriateness. They may also be useful as a voluntary guide for private property owners by providing a framework for selecting the most appropriate option for repair and replacement decisions when planning a rehabilitation project. The guidelines are intended to protect the historic character of the district. The approach to rehabilitation taken in these guidelines results from a single philosophy: the character, visual appeal, and economic value of the South Monroe Historic District exists because buildings, spaces, sidewalks, streets, and trees have been preserved intact in their historical appearance and spatial relationship. The guidelines also extend to new construction and the district setting. New buildings and site improvements should harmonize with qualities and elements found in the district. This usually involved adherence to existing setbacks, scale, height, bulk, orientation, materials, and landscape features." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Office of Archives and History, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P18AF00042).