Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission

Makers of the Mold

DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES

 FOR NEWTON UPPER FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT

Commission

Meeting Agendas

Newton Upper Falls Historic District Map

INTRODUCTION

    Newton Upper Falls has been recognized as an historically important and architecturally intact neighborhood displaying the early development of the nineteenth century mill village built along the Charles River.  In 1986 the Newton Upper Falls 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 the most distinctive village in Newton retaining its nineteenth century flavor of its rich industrial past.

    The Newton Upper Falls Historic District consists of a mix of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional structures most dating from the nineteenth century.  The dwellings are characteristically modest with simple detailing appropriate to Federal and Greek Revival styles. 

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

• modest designs that are residential in scale and have domestic scale elements such as porches, dormers, etc.
• emphasis on craftsmanship for overall design as well as detail
• use of natural materials
• compact but not oversized ratio of building mass (bulk) to land
• variety of vernacular architectural styles with an emphasis on simplicity of design
• 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 the public way, park, or public body of water.  The Commission serves as a resource.  It can recommend publications and provide information about appropriate design and use of materials.

 WHAT IS REVIEWED

    The purpose of the Newton Upper Falls Historic District is to preserve and enhance the streetscapes and overall community character.  To ensure that new elements and 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, design, detail and materials.  The compatibility will be assessed for its general principles as well as its specific elements of design.  It is not the intent of the Commission to dictate style or taste by the review process.

    It is the Commission's responsibility to determine whether a property is visible from a public way, park, or body of water and to proceed with the review when appropriate.  Those properties which are viewed only from a distance will be considered for those visible aspects which may have an impact on the district including as overall height, massing and materials.  The review process will only be extended to the form and detail that are perceptible.

CRITERIA FOR REVIEW

    In its mission to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of the district, the Newton Upper Falls Historic District Commission will review each proposal in terms of criteria for 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 on small lots with similar setbacks?
• Harmony  -  Does the proposal have a consistency and unity of form and detail which is separate from style and building type?
• Site Context - How successful is the relationship between a proposal and its surroundings relative to setbacks, heights, and the harmony and character of streetscape?
• Landscaping - Do plans related to grade changes and fencing which can articulate a site and create physical edges?
• 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 - Does it have relationship of height to that of adjacent properties which tend to be consistent within streetscapes of areas of the overall community?
• 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 exterior cladding, roof, window, door, and architectural trim compatible with materials used in the community which are predominately 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 proposed guidelines for size, scale and massing.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

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

 

 

1. photographs of existing site conditions
2. site plan showing adjacent properties (1"= 20'scale)
3. building elevations (1/4"=1' or 1/8=1')
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 the 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 view 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 set and one unbound set.
    8.   site sections and topographic information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Download the application

    For additional information about procedures and appropriate documentation, please contact Alexandra Ananth in the Planning Department at 617-796-1121, or by email at aananth@ci.newton.ma.us.  The regular hours of the preservation planner are Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 5:00