DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES

 FOR CHESTNUT HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT

INTRODUCTION

    Chestnut Hill has been recognized as an architecturally important and intact historic neighborhood displaying the results of early subdivision plans and development spanning more than a century. In 1988 and 1990, the Old Chestnut Hill Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, clearly acknowledging the historical significance and architectural integrity of the District. The National Register Nomination describes the District as having commodious architect-designed houses with attention to landscape detail.

    The Chestnut Hill Historic District consists almost entirely of residential structures, most dating from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The dwellings are characteristically large, with lushly landscaped lots, affording privacy and a sense of seclusion. Typically, lot contours reflect the natural terrain. The winding streets in the district also respond to the topography.

    Demolition of any structure within the District is strongly discouraged and will only be considered when all other possible options for reusing a structure have been exhausted. Further, it is the responsibility of the applicant to establish that the structure to be demolished has no architectural or historical character relating to the development of the Chestnut Hill Historic District. Instead, the Commission encourages applicant’s to consider creative solutions or modifications which will achieve the same goal while preserving the original character of the structure.

    Characteristics which are encouraged and which contribute to the uniqueness of the District include:

  • the degree of privacy created by distance and/or plant material

  • unique designs that are residential in scale and have domestic scale elements such as porches, balconies, terraces, bay windows, dormers, etc

  • emphasis on craftsmanship for overall design as well as detail

  • use of natural materials

  • low density ratio of building mass (bulk) to land

  • variety of New England architectural styles

  • informal attitude of building styles and settings

    The local historic district is administered by the local historic district commission which reviews and advises on all proposals for change, including alterations, demolition, and new construction that are visible from a public street, way, park, or body of water. The Commission serves as a resource and can direct one to publications and information about appropriate design and use of materials.

WHAT IS REVIEWED

    The purpose of establishing the Chestnut Hill Local Historic District is to preserve and enhance the streetscapes and overall community character by ensuring elements of appropriate bulk, material, and detail. To ensure that the new elements and the removal or modification of existing elements have a positive effect on the physical character of the District, proposals will be reviewed for compatibility with existing architecture in terms of land coverage, massing (bulk), proportions, and materials. The compatibility will be assessed for its general principles as well a its specific elements of design. It is not the intent to dictate style or taste by the review process.

    The Commission strongly discourages demolition of any structure

    It is the Commission's responsibility to determine whether a property is visible from a public street, way, park, and/or body of water and to proceed with the review when appropriate. Those properties which are only viewed from a distance will be considered for those aspects which are perceptible.

CRITERIA FOR REVIEW

    In its mission to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of the district, the Chestnut Hill Historic District Commission will review each proposal in terms of general principles of design and in terms of specific elements of design.

    The general principles of design refer to the site, streetscape, and community. The specific elements of design refer to the individual properties or elements of the site design.

    General Principles of Design

  • Character - Is the proposal appropriate to the existing community character which is illustrated by the variety of architectural styles set in private, landscaped, informal settings with attention to detail and craftsmanship?

  • Harmony - Does the proposal have a consistency and unity of form and detail?

  • Site Context - How successful is the relationship between a proposal and its surroundings relative to setbacks, heights, and the harmony and character of streetscape and/or existing structure(s).?

  • Landscaping - Do grade changes, garden structures, and fencing, which can articulate a site and create physical edges, maintain an informal character?

  • Spatial Relationship - Does the proposal address the issue of varying sizes of front, side and rear spaces in relation to site and adjacent properties?

    Specific Elements of Design

  • Scale - Does the proposal demonstrate a balanced relationship in the parts of the design and a domestic scale consistent with other structures in the district?

  • Height - Is there a relationship of height with adjacent properties which tends to be consistent within streetscapes of specific neighborhoods?

  • Massing/Bulk - Is there an overall relationship of the building size and scale relative to the lot and to surrounding properties?

  • Setback - Does the relationship to site and to streetscape maintain balance and harmony within the streetscape?

  • Roof - Are the shapes and angles consistent with surrounding roof shapes and pitches to maintain balance and setbacks and visual lines?

  • Fenestration - Do the patterns and rhythms of windows and doors maintain a balance, which can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and convey a sense of function?

  • Materials - Is the the exterior cladding, roof, window, door, and architectural trim compatible with materials used in the community which are predominantly of natural materials?

  • Surface treatments - Is there an overall harmony of texture and detail?

    The criteria are specific to certain design principles without dictating the specific styles of proposals. Modern design is appropriate in historic districts when it is reflective of these guidelines for size, scale and massing.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

    The applicant will want to provide information that demonstrates how the proposal meets the standards of the district. The amount of material varies according to the size and scale of the project. Standard items may include the following:

        1. Photographs of existing site conditions, 
        2. Site plan showing adjacent properties. (I"- 20'scale) 
        3. Building elevations (1/4"- l' or I/8=19), 
        4. Materials literature and/or samples. 
        5. Historical information (old photos, etc.)

    For NEW CONSTRUCTION, it is important to convey the size, height and massing of a proposed building and how that new construction will relate to the land and adjacent topography and structures. In addition to the items listed above, applications for new construction should include:

        6. Photographs - 4 views from cardinal points looking to the site or subject and to relevant adjacent streetscapes and individual structures.
   
        7. Drawings/plans of proposed building construction - one bound and one unbound set.

        8. Site sections and topographic information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    For additional information about procedures and appropriate documentation, you may contact the Preservation Planner, Lara Kritzer, in the Planning and Development Department
at 617-796-1129.