University City, MO Linden-Kingsbury Historic District

[R.O. 2011 §34-85.2; Ord. No. 6139 §1(Exh. A (part)), 1997]

A building permit shall be required for:

Construction of new buildings and additions;

The addition, demolition, removal or substantial alteration of exterior features of all structures in the district; features to be regulated include, but are not limited to, roofs, exterior walls, window openings, windows, window frames, storm sash, door openings, doors, door frames, storm doors, porches, balconies and ornamental features;

The erection of walls, fences and retaining walls in front of or within two hundred ten (210) feet of the front building line and along the north property lines of 244 Linden and 469 North Hanley;

Landscaping changes in front of or within twenty (20) feet of the front building line which involve:

Removal of trees with a trunk diameter of twelve (12) inches or more (unless the tree is dead or presents a danger of falling);

Planting of hedges;

Changing the grade of any part of the front yard;

Placement of landscape timbers;

Addition of paving materials or stone ground cover for use other than for walks or drives when the area to be covered exceeds one hundred forty-four (144) square feet.

Placement of freestanding light fixtures; and no building permit shall be issued for the above listed activities without review by the Historic Preservation Commission to determine conformance with the standards and guidelines for the district. To reach its determination, the Historic Preservation Commission may require the submission of plans, specifications and material samples necessary to a decision concerning the appropriateness of the proposed undertaking.

A permit shall not be required for ordinary maintenance when like materials are to be used. A permit shall not be required for the planting of new trees and other landscape material, with the exception of hedges in front of or within twenty (20) feet of the front building line. A permit shall not be required for the erection of fences, walls and retaining walls and the planting of hedges more than twenty (20) feet behind the front building line.

All aspects of an application for excavation, construction, erection, demolition and/or alteration shall be considered as a whole by the Historic Preservation Commission.

[R.O. 2011 §34-85.3; Ord. No. 6139 §1(Exh. A (part)), 1997]

The objective of the Linden-Kingsbury Historic District is to maintain the distinctive character, quality of construction and individual architectural integrity of structures within the district, and to preserve the existing overall image of the district as determined by scale, spacing and setbacks of the buildings.

A continuity of design is exhibited in the row of five (5) dark-stained frame and shingle houses which have common building materials, colors, architectural style, detailing and scale. A rhythm of building masses and spaces is notable in this row, as these houses, as well as 218 Linden, are each approximately half as wide as their lots and are sited on the north half of the lot. Particularly when new construction is proposed, consideration of streetscape and the relationship of new construction to existing construction is of utmost importance. Throughout the district, compatibility with existing structures shall be judged on, but not limited to, massing, detail, size and scale.

The following are the standards for the use of structures and criteria by which alterations to existing structures as well as new construction can be reviewed:

Use. Detached single-family dwellings and their accessory structures shall be the only structures permitted within the historic district. Those dwellings shall be built and located in accordance with the provisions Article IV, of Division 1 (Single-Family Residential District).

Structures.

Demolition. No building or structure within the historic district shall be demolished and no permit shall be issued for the demolition of any such building or structure, unless it is in such a state of deterioration and disrepair or is so unsound structurally as to make rehabilitation impracticable.

Location. New or moved structures shall be positioned on their lots so that any existing rhythm of recurrent building masses to spaces is continued as well as the pattern of setback from the street.

Scale. All new, reconstructed or moved structures shall respect and complement the existing structures. The importance of maintaining the scale, size and proportion of the elements within the historic district must be observed to maintain the architectural integrity.

Exterior materials. In the Linden-Kingsbury Historic District, wood shingle and lapped wood siding are the dominant materials, with wood trim and other architectural features. All new building materials shall be compatible in type and texture with these materials, except that alterations to 218 Linden, which is a half-timber and stucco structure with a tile roof, and to 212 Linden, which is brick structure with a slate roof, should be of materials compatible with those buildings. Dark brown stain is the preferred treatment for shingle or siding that is presently that color, and is the preferred treatment for wood shingle or siding on any addition or alteration to an existing dark-stained house. A submission of all building material samples shall be required prior to review by the Commission. Vinyl or aluminum siding shall not be permitted as a covering or replacement material on existing wood houses.

Details. Architectural details on existing structures shall be maintained in a similar size, detail and material. Where they are badly deteriorated, similar details may be substituted. Both new and replacement window and door frames shall be limited to wood or color finished aluminum. Raw or unfinished aluminum is not acceptable. Awnings of canvas or other fabric material only are acceptable.

Roof shapes. When one (1) roof shape is employed in a predominance of existing buildings in a row, any proposed new construction or alteration should be reviewed with respect to its compatibility with the existing adjacent buildings.

Roof materials. New roof materials shall be wood shingle or asphalt shingle in colors of gray, gray-green or brown; brightly colored roofing materials are not appropriate. Preferred new roofing materials for 212 and 218 Linden are slate and red tile, the existing materials on those two (2) structures.

Walls, fences and retaining walls. Walls, fences and retaining walls are not permitted in front of or within twenty (20) feet of the building line, except that they are permitted ten (10) feet or more behind the front building line between 200 and 206 Linden and between 206 and 212 Linden. Fences, where they are visible from the street, should be dark stained or naturally weathered wood post-and-rail or evergreen hedge, as is consistent with existing dominant materials. Walls, fences and retaining walls more than twenty (20) feet behind the front building line are not regulated by these standards except along the north property lines of 244 Linden and 469 North Hanley where they are permitted to screen for safety and privacy and against the automobile noise of Kingsbury; design of such fences and walls must be compatible with adjacent historic structures and present an orderly appearance along the street, but need not be an open post-and-rail type of fence.

Landscaping. The large, mature trees in the district contribute significantly to the distinctive and attractive character of the neighborhood. These should be carefully maintained. Any new planting should be compatible, considering massing continuity. The row of Linden trees planted along the street should be maintained and will, upon maturity, contribute to the orderly appearance of the streetscape. Hedges are not permitted in front of the front building line, and major grade changes are not permitted in front of the front building line, in order to maintain continuity and an uninterrupted vista along the street. Landscape timbers should not be permitted in front of the front building line. Grass is the dominant ground cover in the district, with some beds of ivy and other low-growing leafy ground cover.

These should be continued and any new or added material should be compatible with the streetscape. Paving material and stone ground cover should be compatible with the streetscape. Paving material and stone ground cover should not be permitted for areas exceeding one hundred forty-four (144) square feet, except for use as driveways and walks.

Street furniture and utilities. All freestanding light standards placed in the front yard of any structures or premises shall be either authentic period styling or high quality contemporary design. The exiting cast iron light standards and luminaries shall be maintained. Where possible, all utility lines shall be underground.