DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES

The Historic Preservation Commission is pleased to present the City of Geneva, Design Guidelines for Historic Properties. The final draft of the Design Guidelines will be reviewed by the Committee of the Whole and Geneva City Council on April 12 and April 19, 2010.

The final draft of the 120-page document is available here:

Design Guidelines for Historic Properties

The Design Guidelines are the City’s first illustrated guide on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation (SOI Standards) which were adopted by the City of Geneva in 1995 as the standards to be used by the HPC when reviewing permit requests for exterior improvements to designated historic properties. The SOI Standards are ten standards which are used nationwide by local and federal preservation commissions and organizations when reviewing improvements to historic properties. The SOI Standards may be found here:

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/TPS/tax/rhb/stand.htm

The Design Guidelines for Historic Properties are intended to enhance, explain and illustrate the SOI Standards by focusing on Geneva’s own historic context and resources. The Guidelines reflect the Historic Preservation Commission’s philosophy that underlies all of its decisions: to encourage the preservation and careful treatment of the city’s historically significant resources, while recognizing the need for continual adaptation, maintenance, and improvement to these resources.

If you have questions regarding the Design Guidelines, please contact Karla Kaulfuss at 630/938.4541 or kkaulfuss@geneva.il.us