Design Guidelines for Oakwood
Purpose of the Guidelines
The general goal of the Design Guidelines is to enhance the appearance of the business districts of Oakwood, thereby improving the viability of the retail market, preserving its civic functions, and improving the quality of the surrounding neighborhoods. The document also provides an outline property owners as to what is appropriate for the area.
The Oakwood Design Guidelines provide standards to aid the City of Oakwood in its decisions concerning the compatibility of proposed design decisions with the existing and desired character and scale of the Oakwood Business Districts. These design guidelines, through text and illustrations, establish a palette of design elements and standards for evaluating the appropriateness of exterior changes proposed to individual stores, storefronts, and buildings by property owners.
The guidelines do not prescribe specific construction plans, nor do they concern themselves with interior architecture. The primary concern is with the image a building projects. Research focused on the massing of structures, roof forms, building setbacks, facade materials, colors, and textures has been applied to consider future improvements to construction details, signage, landscaping and screening, the two key elements of scale, and continuity of the street.
Use of the Guidelines
Existing Buildings
The designers will become acquainted with the buildings by studying the existing facade and architectural features and forming comparisons with the surrounding buildings. An additional task includes identifying the building type, such as commercial, large commercial, and residential. The design will adhere to the following guidelines:
New Buildings
First refer to the massing section to follow the specific guidelines.
Renovations and Additions
Any renovation, addition, or new facility deviating from the guidelines is subject to review by the City of Oakwood.
Specific Design Guidelines
Overview
This section deals with the detailed elements that establish the District's character when these guidelines are applied to individual buildings.
As discussed in the previous sections, the general architectural appearance should reflect the roots of the area's development in the 1920s and '30s. The materials, elements, and details were researched and chosen based on their ability to create a coherent image. Adhering to these guidelines will draw together the older buildings and newer construction into the character of the Oakwood Business Districts. Great effort should be taken to avoid alienating any of the existing structures. While the character of the district is established by the small commercial structures, work done on the other building types should maintain the integrity of the particular structure.
The design guides will relate to three building types: 1) residential, 2) commercial, and 3) large commercial. Residential buildings will be defined as those that adhere to the design concepts of residential buildings, regardless of building function. The applications of the guides will duplicate some elements among the three categories.