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The process of updating Ravenna’s design review guidelines has kicked off, and officials hope it will lead to a revival of Ravenna’s historic downtown district.
Experts from Perspectus, the company hired last year to advise the city through the process of updating its design review consulting lines, recently presented the assignment to the City Council. The goal is to complete the update before summer or early fall.
The Design Review Board is reviewing proposed adjustments to the exterior of buildings facing Main Street in the city’s historic district. The commission, which includes design and structural professionals, reviews the plans and suggests adjustments to the building’s historic character.
For example, the commission approved the paint colors of the Phoenix building when it was renovated in 2014.
Last year, Mayor Frank Seman told the council that the rules needed to be updated because owners of new-build homes are having trouble complying with city rules while also making a profit.
“We want to balance historic preservation and economic development,” he said at the time. “We’re in a bind. “
Lauren Burge, principal with Perspectus, and Polly Bloom, a preservation specialist, gave Council an overview of what the guideline updating process will look like. A similar presentation was recently given to the Design Review Commission.
In the coming weeks, Bloom and Burge said, virtual town hall meetings will be held and citizens will be asked to rank the goals of the design guidelines, indicate which demanding design situations are most urgent, and indicate how they spend their time and money. .
Burge said that in addition to virtual meetings with local residents, the Ohio Office of Historic Preservation wants to review the rules and give them final approval. The City Council and Design Review Board will also review the final document before submitting it to the state.
The finished product, he explained, will specify neighborhood barriers, adding data on the city’s history and architectural styles, a summary of national standards, rules for modifications to historic structures and new structures in the neighborhood, as well as guidance. and external resources.
Burge said the rules are meant to show homeowners what’s imaginable when it comes to improving their homes in the historic district.
“Ordinances are written in legal language with no pictures,” she said. “Guidelines are meant to help people look at things in a new light. They’re meant to get people excited about their property.”
Burge said preserving historic heritage is vital because communities that value it have higher asset prices and tend to those prices even in times of economic downturn.
The preservation of historical heritage also tends to increase advertising traffic, he said.
“People love history,” he said. It’s the number one charm after the beach. “
She pointed out that Tripadvisor’s list of things to do in Ohio puts historic attractions at the top, including caverns in Cincinnati and historic site walking tours in Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The experts also examined other architectures observed in the buildings of Ravenna.
They included the Italian flavor of Etna House, the neoclassical flavor of Riddle Block 1, the Eastlake flavor of the building that houses West Main Winery, the neoclassical flavor of Riddle Block 9, the neo-Georgian flavor of the Reed Memorial Library, and the neoclassical flavor of Riddle Block 1. Gothic. Gothic. Neo-Renaissance Gothic of the Phoenix Building.
“This total block is incredible. There’s still a lot of this flavor left in Ohio,” Burge said. “To have something like this downtown is phenomenal. “
Councilwoman Cheryl Wood asked what they would do to promote economic development.
“We have a lot of empty stores,” he said. How do we work with corporations and against them?”
Burge said the rules would be passed in conjunction with other systems that would help asset owners unload funds on their properties.
“We can look at other communities and see which ones are successful and what they’re doing,” she said.
Main Street Ravenna will also hold a public meeting Wednesday to discuss its research on the revitalization roadmap.
The convention will begin at 4 p. m. tarde. heures. au Main Street Ravenna Office, 267 W. Main St.
All are invited to discuss revitalization of the city’s downtown and the upcoming planning process for the Revitalization Roadmap. Those interested in taking the Revitalization Roadmap survey can find a link on Main Street Ravenna’s Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on the Record-Courier: Ravenna hopes updated design rules encourage historic preservation
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