[HISTORY: Added by the Town Board of the
Town of East Hampton 3-18-2004 by L.L. No. 4-2004]
A.
The Springs Historic District contains a mix of nineteenth-century
farmhouses, barns, community buildings and commercial buildings in
a rural setting.
B.
The group of intact historic buildings, which includes
10 vernacular farmhouses, four barns, the 1844 Springs General Store,
the 1882 Springs Community Presbyterian Church, the 1884 Springs School
(Ashawagh Hall) and the 1886 Charles Parsons Blacksmith Shop, represent
many facets of life in this thriving agrarian community during the
nineteenth century.
C.
Equally important to the historic buildings is their
setting. Although the farms are no longer active and fields are overgrown,
the barns, outbuildings and maintained clearings keep the rural landscape
intact. The historic setting is especially vivid at the heart of the
district with the triangular green at Ashawagh Hall, the Pussy's Pond
preserve and the open farmyard and agricultural buildings of the Talmage-Miller
House across Fireplace Road. This open setting maintains the relationships
between the farmhouses, community buildings, country store and blacksmith
shop. Also preserved are the important relationships of the nineteenth-century
Springs Farm between farmhouse, barn, pastureland, woodland, salt
meadow and the freshwater springs of Pussy's Pond.
A.
Maintain and enhance the elements that contribute
to the overall setting: open yards and clearings, traditional fences
along the road, visual connections between historic buildings and
vistas to Accabonac Harbor.
B.
Maintain the architectural integrity of the historic
buildings, especially of the front facades and other components visible
from the road.
C.
Allow additions and other changes to rear walls and
in appropriate ways to side walls to allow the historic buildings
to be adapted to changing needs and lifestyles.
D.
Maintain the architectural integrity of the barns
and other agricultural structures and the integrity of their setting.
A.
Work that is exempt from review for a property with
an historic single-family residence.
(1)
All roofing.
(2)
All painting.
(3)
Shingling side walls.
(4)
Storm/screen windows and storm/screen doors.
(5)
Window shutters.
(6)
Gutters and leaders.
(7)
Porch steps, porch flooring and railings to porch
steps.
(8)
Decks and terraces on the rear wall.
(9)
Any work to the rear wall that does not require a
building permit.
(10)
Any work to a non-historic accessory building (less
than 50 years old) which does not require a building permit.
(11)
Wood horizontal-board fences with two or three rails
and wood split-rail fences with two or three rails lees than four
feet high.
(12)
Resurfacing existing driveways.
(13)
Walkways.
(14)
Exterior lighting.
(15)
Any minor repair where the purpose of the repair is
to correct deterioration of a feature arid to restore that feature
to its original condition.
A.
Fences and walls. The horizontal-board fences and
split-rail fences contribute to the open and rural character of The
Springs Historic District.
B.
Grade changes, berms and retaining walls.
(1)
The natural topography is an important feature of
The Springs Historic District. Farmland, pastureland, woodland and
the Accabonac Harbor salt meadows were important to the nineteenth-century
agrarian economy and are essential to the setting of The Springs Historic
District.
C.
Driveways, walkways and parking areas. The intent
is to encourage paving that does not detract from the setting of the
historic district, especially at parking areas for nonresidential
properties.
D.
Tennis courts, swimming pools, decks and terraces.
A new tennis court, swimming pool, deck or terrace should not detract
from the setting of the historic buildings.
(1)
A tennis court, or, swimming pool should not detract
from the setting of the properties in the district. Therefore, the
location of a swimming pool or tennis court on the property is the
principal concern.
(2)
Swimming pools and tennis courts should be located
to the rear of the residence and not be visible from the road.
(3)
Decks and terraces will be reviewed for their location
and impact on the setting and architectural integrity of an historic
building and the setting of other properties in the district. A deck
or terrace on the rear wall of a residence is exempt from review.
E.
Exterior lighting. Lighting on nonresidential properties
can affect the setting of the residences.
(1)
Exterior lighting is exempt from review for a property
with a single-family residence.
(2)
Exterior lighting on other properties should be appropriate
to the rural character of the historic district and compatible with
the residential areas of the district. Light fixtures should be sited
to prevent glare or reflection onto adjacent properties.
A.
Work to the rear wall of a single-family residence
that does not require a building permit is exempt from review. Any
work to the rear wall of a single-family residence that does not require
a building permit is exempt from review.
B.
Wall material.
(1)
The intent is to retain appropriate exterior materials,
especially wood shingles.
(2)
Wood shingled exteriors predominate on the historic
buildings and make a major contribution to the cohesive character
of The Springs Historic District. The Parsons Blacksmith Shop has
vertical-board siding and Ashawagh Hall has a stucco exterior.
(a)
Historic buildings with wood shingles, clapboards
or vertical-board siding should retain these treatments.
(b)
Replacing wood shingles with new wood shingles is
exempt from review for a single-family residence or a church.
(c)
Any other proposal to renew the siding on a building
requires review.
D.
Doorways.
(1)
The intent is to retain original front doorways that
contribute to the historic character of a building.
(2)
Among the rural farmhouses of this district, a simple
entrance, such as that of the Abraham King House at 791 Fireplace
Road, is as important as a more decorative entrance; such as the Greek
Revival doorway of the Jonathan Ambrose Parsons House (Anderson House).
(a)
Review is required for any proposal to replace a door
or components of a door enframement.
(b)
All significant elements of an original front doorway,
including the door, should be retained and repaired instead of replaced.
If replacement of any component is necessary, the new material should
match that being replaced.
(c)
Installing a storm/screen door at any doorway is exempt
from review.
(d)
For any single-family residence, installing an access
to a door for the physically handicapped is exempt from review.
E.
Windows.
(1)
The intent is to retain original windows that contribute
to the historic character of a building, especially on the front facade.
(2)
A large number of the historic buildings retain the
original windows and window sash. These are primarily the six-light
sash of the Greek Revival period and the two-light sash of the Victorian
era. These intact windows make a significant contribution to the architectural
character and to the sense of authenticity of the historic district.
(a)
Windows and their trim that contribute to the historic
character of a building should be retained where reasonably feasible,
as set forth below.
(b)
For any request to replace window components the Architectural
Review Board will consider the contribution the existing windows make
to the historic character of the building. Replacement components
for important windows, especially those on the front wall or another
prominent wall, should match the material, configuration and dimensions
of the original.
(c)
When a window is deteriorated and needs to be replaced,
the Board will work with the homeowner to find the best replacement
at a reasonable cost.
(d)
Storm windows, window screens and window shutters
are exempt from review for a single-family residence or a church.
(e)
Installing a skylight requires review.
F.
Porches.
(1)
The intent is to retain original porches that contribute
to the historic character of a building.
(2)
Front porches are important features of some of the
Victorian-era farmhouses in the district such as the Julius Parsons
House at 803 Fireplace Road and the Pollock-Krasner House.
(a)
Removing, replacing or installing a porch or porch
posts, columns, balustrades, brackets, and other important components
requires review. Deteriorated components should be replaced in kind.
(b)
Repair or replacement of porch steps, porch flooring
and railings to porch steps are exempt from review for a single-family
residence or a church.
G.
Paint. Most historic buildings in the district retain
the traditional color schemes of unpainted shingle siding with white
trim or white siding with white trim. These two traditional color
schemes are an important unifying feature of the district and contribute
to the rural character.
(1)
Paint is exempt from review for a single-family residence
or a church.
H.
Other structures in the District.
(1)
The intent is to retain the historic agricultural
structures that contribute to the character of the district.
(2)
The surviving barns and sheds are essential reminders
of the agrarian history of The Springs. The Charles Parsons Blacksmith
Shop is also part of this heritage. These structures are among the
most valuable in the district; they should be retained and their historic
and architectural integrity kept intact.
I.
Additions and alterations.
(1)
Additions and alterations are appropriate when they
do not diminish the architectural integrity or the setting of a building.
(2)
Additions and alterations should not alter an important
historic feature of a building and should be compatible with the historic
character of the building and the district.
(a)
The addition or alteration should be compatible with
the historic building and with the character of the district in scale,
height, massing, proportion and arrangement of windows and other openings,
roof form, texture, materials and architectural details.
(b)
Additions should be subordinate in scale to the historic
building.
(c)
Additions set back on the rear wall are encouraged.
(d)
Additions to a side wall are appropriate when they
are secondary to the historic house. A side addition should be set
back from the front wall of the historic house and be subordinate
in size and scale to the historic house.
(e)
Flexibility is required in reviewing additions and
alterations to rear walls and to secondary side walls of houses where
installation of doors, windows, and additions with more glazing that
found in the historic house can be expected.
A.
Buildings that are less than 50 years old are classified
as nonhistoric buildings.
B.
In The Springs Historic District are six properties
with nonhistoric houses. This classification is made in the historic
district designation report. These six properties are: 753 Fireplace
Road; 771 Fireplace Road; 814 Fireplace Road; 818 Fireplace Road;
825 Fireplace Road; and 21 Old Stone Highway.
C.
These guidelines also apply to accessory buildings
that are less than 50 years old.
D.
Many of the nonhistoric houses and accessory buildings
are set well back on their lots where they have little impact on the
setting of the district. The plantings of an overgrown pasture, an
informal mix of cedar trees and native deciduous trees, provide an
appropriate screen for some of these buildings.
E.
The intent of review of these nonhistoric buildings
is to see that any changes do not detract from the setting of an historic
building and do not diminish the character of the historic district.
Therefore, any proposed changes to a nonhistoric building should be
judged for their compatibility with neighboring historic buildings
and with the character of the road and district in general.
F.
Because most work on a nonhistoric building would
have little or no effect on the historic district, these guidelines
attempt to make the process as streamlined as possible.
(1)
Any work to a nonhistoric building which does not
require a building permit is exempt from review.
(2)
Any work requiring a building permit is subject to review and will be judged by the principles of compatibility in § 255-7-60 of the East Hampton Town Code and amplified in the following "Guidelines for New Construction."
(3)
In reviewing applications for nonhistoric buildings,
the degree to which proposed changes will be visible from adjacent
historic properties and from the road will be taken into account.
Priority will be given to the compatibility of the most visible features
of the proposed new addition or alteration.
(4)
Any addition or alteration to a nonhistoric building
may be in the style of that building.
A.
Accessory buildings.
(1)
Location and plans for accessory buildings, such as
garages, sheds and pool houses, will be reviewed. Generally these
buildings should be sited to the rear of the main building and be
compatible with the main building, its setting and with neighboring
buildings.
(2)
In reviewing applications for accessory buildings,
the degree to which the proposed building will be visible from adjacent
historic properties and from the road will be taken into account.
Priority will be given to the compatibility of the most visible features
of the proposed new building.
B.
Principal buildings.
(1)
New buildings should be compatible with the historic buildings and with the character of the historic district, Section 255-7-60B of the East Hampton Town Code provides criteria for judging the compatibility of new construction. These criteria, which are amplified below, define the basic design elements which establish the character of the historic district. The design elements of a new building should be in harmony with the same elements of the surrounding historic buildings.
(2)
The builders of some of the recent houses within The
Springs Historic District took advantage of the overgrown pasture
landscape and set the new construction back from the road where it
would be screened by the native vegetation. This practice has worked
well in the rural context of this district.
(3)
In reviewing applications for new construction, the
degree to which the proposed building will be visible from adjacent
historic properties and from the road will be taken into account.
Priority will be given to the compatibility of the most visible features
of the proposed new building.
(5)
Rhythm of spacing of buildings.
(a)
The rhythm of buildings and the spaces between which
characterize the district should be maintained by the siting of a
new building on its lot.
(6)
Scale. scale of a new building and its features should
be in harmony with the scale of the historic residences in the district.
(7)
Height. The height of a new residence should be within
the range of heights of the historic residences in the district.
(8)
Massing. New buildings should employ the traditional
simple forms prevalent in the district.
(9)
Proportion and arrangement of windows and other openings.
(a)
The windows of a new building should generally be
rectangular with a vertical proportion.
(b)
The arrangement of windows and doorways should produce
a balanced facade.
(c)
The front facade and prominent side facades of new
buildings should have a ratio of door and window area to wall area
similar to that of the historic residences.
(10)
Roof form. New buildings should have a roof form typical
of that of surrounding historic buildings. The roof slope should be
within the range established by the historic roofs. Secondary components
of some historic buildings have shed roofs.
(11)
Materials. The materials of a new building should
be in harmony with the materials of the historic residences. Wood
shingles are an appropriate siding material. Painted wood doors, windows
and trim would enhance the harmony of materials.
(12)
Architectural details. The conservative use of decorative
detail on new residences would enhance their compatibility with the
historic houses in the district where the use of decorative elements
is restrained.
A.
No building or structure or portion thereof that makes
an important contribution to the district should be demolished or
moved out of the district. Exceptions to this rule may be granted
by the Architectural Review Board only as follows.
B.
In considering a proposal to demolish a building or
portion of a building or to move a building out of the district the
following guidelines apply.
(1)
The Architectural Review Board shall consider the
historic and architectural significance of the building, the contribution
the building makes to the historic district, and the impact of its
removal on the character of the district.
(2)
Nonhistoric buildings may be demolished or moved out
of the district.
(3)
If an application for demolition of an historic building
is based on structural instability or deterioration, a technical report
prepared by an architect or engineer is required. The report will
detail the problems and provide cost estimates for their correction.
(4)
The Architectural Review Board may require adequate
documentation of an historic building through photographs and measured
drawings as a condition of approval when there is no alternative but
demolition.
(5)
Before approval can be granted to demolish a building
or move a building out of the district, the Architectural Review Board
shall require plans for proposed new construction or other use of
the site be submitted and approved.
A.
The character of the district is established by the
traditional placement of the historic residences on their lots and
by the resulting visual relationships between them. Historic buildings
that make an important contribution to the district should remain
on their original sites.
B.
Exception to this rule may be granted by the Architectural
Review Board only as follows.
C.
In considering a proposal to relocate a building on
its present lot the following guidelines apply:
(1)
The rhythm of the road and the visual relationships
between buildings should be maintained.
(2)
The Board will consider the historic and architectural
significance of the building, the contribution the building makes
to the historic district at its present location and the impact of
its proposed relocation on the character of the district. The Board
will take into account the setbacks of other historic houses in the
district which remain on their original sites.
A.
The Springs Historic District includes the access
strips to five flag lots. These are: 755 Fireplace Road; 757 Fireplace
Road; 775 Fireplace Road; 777 Fireplace Road; and 815 Fireplace Road.
B.
The main portion of these lots and the buildings on
them are not in the district. The owners of these access strips are
required to submit an application only for any fence, wall, gate or
new driveway proposed within the designated access strip.
A.
The nature of review for public property. Proposals
for work to property owned by the Town of East Hampton will be submitted
to the Architectural Review Board for their review. The Architectural
Review Board will issue their findings in a report to the Town Board
and to the official making the application. The report will explain
how the proposal meets or does not meet the standards, criteria and
guidelines that apply to The Springs Historic District and will consider
any alternatives to the proposal that would better meet those standards,
criteria and guidelines.
B.
Fireplace Road, Old Stone Highway and public land.
(1)
Fireplace Road, Old Stone Highway and the public land
of the Pussy's Pond Nature Preserve and the Anderson House parcel
should be managed in a way that maintains or enhances the setting
of the historic district.
(2)
The land which is now Pussy's Pond Nature Preserve
along with the parcel containing the Jonathan Ambrose Parsons House
(Anderson House) and Blacksmith Shop was the farm of Jonathan Ambrose
Parsons and George Ambrose Parsons from the early 19th century into
the early 20th century. This farm had pastureland, water for livestock
in the spring-fed Pussy's Pond and salt meadows. These were the major
resources of the important faiths of The Springs.
(3)
The success of this farm is well expressed by the
house Jonathan Ambrose Parsons built in 1842 (Anderson House) with
its substantial size, Greek Revival form and elaborate doorway.
(4)
The historic setting of the Parsons House has diminished
as the abandoned pastureland has become overgrown with cedars and
native deciduous trees and the upper pond has become filled in.
(5)
Enhancing the relationship between the Parsons House
(Anderson House), Pussy's Pond and the Parsons farm pastureland would
greatly increase the ability of the Parsons House to evoke the agrarian
history of The Springs.
(6)
The open setting provided by the triangular green
at Ashawagh Hall and the resulting visual connections between buildings
gives the heart of the district its vivid historic character. More
openness, especially at the Parsons House (Anderson House) lot and
at the north end of Pussy's Pond preserve would further enhance the
visual relationships between historic buildings and provide more of
an agrarian setting.
(7)
Alterations to public property subject to review by
the Architectural Review Board include any plans to widen the road,
install curbs, install a sidewalk, build a parking area, change the
street lights, install any exterior lighting, install a fence or construct
any building or structure within the district.
(a)
Any proposal should maintain or enhance the
setting of the historic buildings in the district.
(b)
The rural character of Fireplace Road and Old
Stone Highway should be retained. The roadway should be maintained
at its present width with no curbing or shoulders.
(c)
The historic district should be enhanced by
creating a more open setting, especially at the Jonathan Ambrose Parsons
House (Anderson House) lot and at the north end of Pussy's Pond preserve.
C.
Public Buildings. The Town property includes the 1842
Jonathan Ambrose Parsons House (Anderson House); the 1886 Charles
Parsons Blacksmith Shop, moved to this site from another property
in the district in 1983; and a nonhistoric studio located behind the
Anderson House.
(1)
The Jonathan Ambrose Parsons House is among the most
important historic buildings in the district. It retains a high level
of architectural integrity with many original features, including
the Greek Revival front entrance, windows with six-light sash, and
the kitchen ell.
(2)
The historic significance of the Charles Parsons Blacksmith
Shop has long been recognized. When the future of the blacksmith shop
was threatened the Town moved it to this site and subsequently restored
the building. The Parsons Blacksmith Shop, where farm implements were
manufactured and maintained, also makes an important contribution
to the rural and agrarian character of the district.
(3)
The architectural integrity of the Jonathan Ambrose
Parsons House and the Charles Parsons Blacksmith Shop should be maintained.
The Nature Conservancy owns two groups of contiguous
parcel in the district which extend from Accabonac Harbor.
A.
Adjacent to The Springs Community Presbyterian Church
the Conservancy owns approximately 3.1 acres extending from Fireplace
Road to Accabonac "Harbor. This preserve is at a critical location
adjacent to the church, cemetery, and creek to Pussy's Pond and across
the road from the intact farmhouse and fields at 803 Fireplace Road
(Julius D. Parsons House). Vistas from these properties to Accabonac
Harbor are important to the setting of the historic district and maintain
the historic connection between this settlement and Accabonac Harbor.
B.
A preserve of approximately three acres extends from
the Pollack-Krasner House property to Accabonac Harbor. The open vista
across salt meadows to the harbor is important to the setting of this
National Historic Landmark.
