historic preservation
Standards for Review
We maintain and enhance the historic and architectural integrity of Portland's
historic structures, parks and neighborhoods while recognizing and accommodating
changing needs.
In considering an application for a
Certificate of Appropriateness involving alterations to
existing structures, the Historic Preservation Committee
applies the following general review standards:
- Every reasonable effort shall be
made to provide a compatible use for the property which
requires minimal alteration to the character-defining
features of the structure, object or site and its
environment or to use a property for its originally intended
purpose.
- The distinguishing original
qualities or character of a structure, object or site and
its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or
alteration of any historic material or distinctive
architectural features should be avoided when possible.
- All sites, structures and objects
shall be recognized as products of their own time, place and
use. Alterations that have no historical basis or
create a false sense of historical development such as
adding conjectural features or elements from other
properties shall be discouraged.
- Changes which may have taken place
in the course of time are evidence of the history and
development of a structure, object or site and its
environment. Changes that have acquired significance
in their own right, shall not be destroyed.
- Distinctive features, finishes, and
construction techniques or examples of skilled craftsmanship
which characterize a structure, object or site shall be
treated with sensitivity.
- Deteriorated historic features
shall be repaired rather than replaced wherever
feasible. Where the severity of deterioration requires
replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature should
match the feature being replaced in composition, design,
texture and other visual qualities and, where possible,
materials. Repair or replacement of missing historic
features should be based on accurate duplications of
features, substantiated by documentary, physical or
pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the
availability of different architectural elements from other
structures or objects.
- The surface cleaning of structures
and objects, if appropriate, shall be undertaken with the
gentlest means possible. Chemical or physical
treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to
historic materials shall not be undertaken.
- Every reasonable effort shall be
made to protect and preserve significant archeological
resources affected by or adjacent to any project. If
resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be
undertaken.
- Contemporary design for alterations
and additions to existing properties shall not be
discouraged when such alterations and additions do not
destroy significant cultural, historical, architectural or
archeological materials that characterize the
property. The new work shall be differentiated from
the old and shall be compatible with the size, scale, color,
material and character of the property, neighborhood or
environment.
- Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to
structures and objects shall be undertaken in such a manner
that, if such additions or alterations were to be removed in
the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic
property would be unimpaired.
