DESIGN GUIDELINES

Introduction

A clear set of design guidelines in an easy to use format will allow the city and property owners to successfully navigate the restoration and permitting process in Frankfort. The City of Frankfort has established a historic district and Historic Preservation Commission. Revisions to the Downtown Frankfort Historical District Ordinance (Revised 5/29/15) set forth additional clarification to the existing code (Ordinance 08-05, passed 9-8-08). Further modifications may help the Commission and building owners to understand and navigate the design guidelines process.

In order to make the guidelines a living document, they need to be readily available, user friendly, and illustrative in nature. In revising the text, the Frankfort guidelines could be divided into residential and commercial sections or into two separate documents, allowing building owners to quickly find the standards that apply to them. The document should also be published on the city’s website. Once the guidelines have been revised and updated, they should be promoted as a positive tool for home and business owners to find answers to the special needs of historic buildings. Educational sessions could be offered to introduce the new and improved guidelines and how to use them, explain the benefits of preservation, and answer questions and dispel myths.

The following suggested sections illustrate additional items to include in the guidelines and propose a format that will provide additional visual information for document users. The following suggested guidelines for restoration of Frankfort’s historic façades are based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (http://www.nps.gov/ tps/standards.htm). Utilization of state or federal funds to make improvements to a historic property or the use of Historic Preservation Tax Credits requires adherence to these standards.

There is no single approach for façade improvements appropriate for every building. Guidelines are intended to be general in nature and are not meant to give case-specific advice or address exceptions or rare instances. When determining work to be performed, each building must be considered on a case-by-case basis. In order of priority, the following rules should apply:

• Address any structural damage or deterioration or significant threatening condition.

• Ongoing maintenance items such as repointing, painting, re-glazing windows, roof repairs and replacement if necessary, and other weatherization, is required to mitigate deterioration. See the Historic Structure Maintenance section included in this study.

• If a building is structurally sound, consider other improvements such as repair or replacement of architectural details which have been removed or are damaged or deteriorated; the installation of appropriate signs, awnings, or light fixtures; or other improvements that will not compromise the integrity of the historic building.

The following discussion details the suggested improvements in the areas of structural, storefronts, upper stories, rear entrances, and amenities.

1. ROOFS

When considering repairs, maintenance, or replacement of the roofing system, the following items are of primary importance: roofing material, roof decking and the underlying roof structure, flashing, chimneys, parapets, gutters and downspouts, scuppers, skylights and coping.

Roofs in the Frankfort Downtown Historic District are metal, shingle or EPDM. Seek professional guidance or the guidance of a qualified roofing specialist when making roof repairs or alterations.