Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 1 of 6

Garages and Secondary Structures Preface: This document communicates formal Design Guidelines, which are regulatory and enforced by law. It also offers supplemental information through an Introduction, Preservation Principles, Maintenance Tips, Appendices, photographs, illustrations, and captions. This supplemental material explains the concepts and intent underlying the Design Guidelines, and exemplifies or depicts how the Design Guidelines have been -- or might be -- applied in Clifton. All examples and depictions are meant to educate and illustrate, only. Examples deemed appropriate within one context may be deemed inappropriate for another. An applicant should consult with Landmarks staff regarding any questions about how to interpret these supplemental clauses, illustrations, and examples.

Introduction

These guidelines apply to the new construction, alteration, or replacement of a garage or other secondary structure (such as a utility shed, barn, carport, “garden office,” pool house, greenhouse, conservatory, etc.). The overarching design principle for a secondary structure is that it appear secondary – that it should be architecturally subordinate to the primary structure. It should not compete with the main building in mass or scale or architectural detail. Its design should express its primarily utilitarian function, yet it may also reflect the variety and ‘custom’ appearance of the primary structure. Here are further principles for a garage or secondary structure that will fit well on your property and within the Historic District:

• Garages should be simple structures, built of good quality materials, and should complement the scale, roof form, setback, and materials of the primary and adjacent secondary structures.

• The design and siting of secondary structures must relate both to the primary structure and the adjacent secondary structures.

• Carriage houses often share many design features with their associated primary structure and may be converted to living quarters.

• Buildings intended for residential or office use may be more elaborate than other more utilitarian buildings as long as they do not supersede their primary structure.

Additional regulatory considerations relevant to secondary structure projects include:

• Construction designs need to comply with zoning and building, electrical and plumbing codes.

• A demolition permit is required to tear down any section of a primary or secondary structure.

• A Landmarks Certificate of Appropriateness is always required for all new secondary structures, regardless of size. In addition, a building permit may be required, depending on a structure’s size.

This historic garage near Frankfort Ave. exhibits a board-and- batten exterior and a steep gable roof (with hipped dormer),

and provides two bays and two floors for storage

This recent Coral Ave. garage, approved by the Clifton ARC in 2005, echoes the historic Frankfort Ave. garage’s design

and its utility: board-and-batten, roof type, two bays, two floors.

Sheds of all types and sizes are covered by these Guidelines

Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 2 of 6

In Clifton, historic garages and secondary structures were originally built with a simple, utilitarian design.

Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 3 of 6

Design Guidelines→ Please Note: “In a local preservation district, physical alterations or changes to the exterior of a

building or property require review and approval by the Landmarks Commission in the form of a Certificate of Appropriateness, based on compliance with these Clifton-specific design guidelines, and pursuant to Louisville Metro Ordinance 32.250. Consultation with the Landmarks staff is encouraged to achieve a creative solution that complies with the intent of the guidelines. Rarely is a project pursued in this manner denied.”

G1 Contributing secondary structures should be preserved. However, when demolition is being requested to make way for a new secondary building, then Landmarks staff and/or ARC will evaluate and review the demolition permit request based on the structure’s integrity, historical character and materials, functionality and security concerns. All structures in the district will be identified as either contributing or non-contributing at the time of evaluation. See the Demolition guidelines for more details.

G2 New garages or other secondary structures should be designed so they complement the scale, mass, roof form, setback, and materials of adjacent secondary structures. They should also be subordinate to the primary structure.

G3 New garages should be sited adjacent to an alley where present. Review the garage prototype illustration that identifies styles appropriate to preservation districts when planning a garage construction project.

G4 When no alley exists, garages should be sited at the rear of the property behind the main house. Landscape screening is encouraged along the driveway.

G5 Single garage doors should be used rather than expansive double or triple doors.

G6 The roofline of a new garage should be oriented so it is parallel with the main house or follows the predominant pattern of existing secondary structures when a pattern exists.

G7 Roof pitch should be no less than one in six. The roof form of the garage should match the roof form of the main house when it is a character-defining feature.

G8 New garages should be designed so access to off-street parking is off alleys or secondary streets wherever possible.

G9 New garages should be located at the rear of the property, should define and enclose the rear yard, and should be aligned with adjacent secondary structures. G10 The garage design should be simple and rectangular in shape. Ell-shaped floor plans, slightly-projecting bays, and cantilevered second floors are also permitted.

Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 4 of 6

G11 New garage walls should be constructed with any of these materials (1) Horizontal siding to match existing

exposure of the primary structure (normally 3" or 4" exposure), (2) corner boards and trim around openings, (3) board and batten siding, (4) brick, (5) stucco over frame or concrete block, (6) painted concrete block with parged or flush joint finish, (7) cast stone, molded concrete block, or (8) wood, aluminum or vinyl siding, or fiber cement siding or board to match existing exposure of the primary structure. Do not use these materials: T-111, exposed uncoated concrete block, or painted concrete block unless parged or skim coated first.

G12 Approvable roof designs include simple gable roofs (6-in-12 minimum slope), hipped, shed, and flat roofs with

parapets, intersecting gables, overhanging eaves, and gable end-vents. Not approvable are low-pitched gable roofs (less than 6-in-12 slope), flush eaves, and roofs without gutters.

G13 Asphalt, fiberglass, wood, tile, metal, slate or synthetic shingles are recommended roof materials. Half-round or

ogee gutters, gable-end elements, and solar collectors are approvable. Do not use membrane or roll roofing on sloped roofs with 3-in-12 pitch or greater. See Roofing guidelines for additional details.

G14 Single-car garage doors or openings are preferred. Double- or triple-wide doors which convey the appearance of

2 or 3 single doors may be approved. Flush garage doors which accentuate the large size of the opening are prohibited.

G15 Garage window openings should be used that visually break up the

wall’s surface and may be placed at higher elevations for security. Security grills may be installed on the inside face of the windows.

If a double-wide door is needed, its design can mimic two single doors

Elevated windows enhance security

Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 5 of 6

On the right, the double door’s design features break up the opening’s visual expanse and suggest two separate doors; by contrast, the double door on the left lacks visual interest and just appears large and empty, and may be deemed inappropriate.

Where several parking bays are needed, one way to avoid a wide, featureless door-expanse (like on the left) is to articulate the garage’s façade, then break up double into single doors (as on the right).

The unfinished, exposed concrete block on the left can be easily and affordably parged (skim-coated with a stucco-like material) to

achieve the more attractive paintable surface on the right.

Oct 2 2016 Louisville Landmarks Commission, Clifton Design Guidelines: Garages & Secondary Structures, Page 6 of 6

A sampling of Clifton’s garages and secondary structures, old and new…

Former Bimerlee’s Framing Shop, rear Pope St.

Payne St. garage approved by ARC 2009

Historic garage, rear Haldeman Ave.

Historic boiler building at Franklin School

Saunders Ave. garage approved by ARC 2008