Grand Avenue Commercial Historic District Design Guidelines

Bergland + Cram

From the Guideline Goals section: "This guideline document was created to merge the goals of many priorities within Spencer. Economic growth and historically mindful rehabilitations go hand in hand. You can look to the future while honoring the past. They are not opposing forces. When aligned, the individual efforts of property owners, designers, and city officials can have profoundly positive and measurable impacts on downtown viability. Guidelines aim to: - Approach property potential from a holistic and long-term viewpoint - Serve as a tool to enhance and protect property values - Educate property owners on the connection between historic fabric and their bottom line - Create awareness in the community around the importance of architectural heritage and how they can partner with the government or other agencies for win/win solutions. In contrast, becoming too complacent with an 'anything goes' approach to downtown building projects is detrimental. Property values degrade, tenants seek out more suitable areas, an consumers and visitors choose to go elsewhere. Additionally, property owners may relinquish access to rehabilitation-focused funding if their projects are not mindful of maintaining historic character. At the core of these guidelines is a realization that people are drawn to places with unique charm and character. So protecting and enhancing the assets of individual buildings will have the collective impact of drawing people and business to your downtown. Work purposefully to maintain your downtown's relevancy and your building's integrity!" Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the State Historical Society of Iowa, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P20AF00020).

Grand Avenue Commercial Historic District Design Guidelines

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