Bristol, Tennessee Historic District Design Guidelines

From the Introduction and Purpose of this Manual: "The City of Bristol, Tennessee, is committed to the preservation of its unique heritage and historic properties. In Bristol there are three historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic: the Bristol Commercial Historic District; the Fairmount Neighborhood Historic District; and the Holston Avenue Neighborhood Historic District. Listing in the National Register is an honorary designation, providing limited protection to individual buildings or districts as a whole. Design guidelines outline the best practices for preserving the architectural resources in these historically significant commercial and residential areas. The design guidelines for the historic districts in Bristol are voluntary. Their purpose is to offer 'best practices' for appropriate maintenance, repair, or replacement of specific design elements common for buildings constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This design guidelines manual assists property owners in determining the appropriate means and methods of treatment of historic properties. The manual also provides guidance to developers of new construction within a historic district. These guidelines have been crafted to maintain the architectural integrity of the original buildings and the overall historic appearance of the historic districts. They are written to recognize the evolution of a building in terms of changing needs of its occupants, allowing for modification carried out in a sensitive manner than maintains the special character of the historic districts. At their core, design guidelines assist property owners in maintaining and enhancing the appearance of their properties, sustaining or even increasing property values, and improving the livability of historic areas. Design guidelines help property owners understand the value and methods of preserving and maintaining the essential character of their property and methods for preservation and maintenance. The guidelines generally focus on the exterior of historic buildings, which includes all treatments and finishes, windows, doors, storefronts, and other improvements or modifications to the original building exterior. The guidelines address nominal repairs and limited improvements to historic buildings and structures. For major renovations and construction decisions, it is highly recommended that property owners seek the expertise of a qualified architect. This assistance is especially necessary in the rehabilitation of an income-producing property for which the building owner is applying for federal tax incentives. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is a criterion of the federal tax application process. Thus, these guidelines provide a useful resource to owners of historic properties in Bristol's historic districts who may be considering applying for the tax credit on rehabilitation projects. In general, the City of Bristol desires to encourage the maintenance of the community's special qualities and unique heritage, embodied in the city's historic architecture. Loss of historic buildings through severe alterations or demolition diminishes the appearance of the downtown area and older residential neighborhoods. The historic buildings of these districts are significant resources to the community and it is the City's policy to promote respectful rehabilitation and compatible new construction." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Funding grant to the Tennessee Historical Commission, Department of Environment & Conservation, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P19AF00013).