Throughout the country many small communities who
have undertaken the task of revitalizing their
downtown have created design guidelines to improve
the visual quality of Main Street. These
communities have realized that in order for the
downtown district to succeed the physical
appearance of the buildings and streets must be
attractive to shoppers, investors, business owners,
and visitors.
Design guidelines are not intended to require building owners to make improvements to their buildings, nor are they attempts to regulate growth. The goal of having guidelines is to reach a consensus on the unique characteristics of downtown that should maintained and reinforced, thereby improving the qualities of Main Street, protecting the existing architectural character, discouraging incompatible new construction, and protecting the value of buildings and businesses and the investment of building owners.
Design guidelines typically address such elements as building façade colors and materials, signage, exterior window treatments, (e.g. awnings, shutters), building lighting, and sidewalk ameni-ties such as lampposts and benches. The objective isn’t to produce a street filled with buildings that all look the same, but to create an attractive pedestrian atmos-phere with compatible and lively storefronts. Using design guidelines to attract people to downtown is similar to the way manufacturers use appealing packaging to sell their products.
Design guidelines are not intended to require building owners to make improvements to their buildings, nor are they attempts to regulate growth. The goal of having guidelines is to reach a consensus on the unique characteristics of downtown that should maintained and reinforced, thereby improving the qualities of Main Street, protecting the existing architectural character, discouraging incompatible new construction, and protecting the value of buildings and businesses and the investment of building owners.
Design guidelines typically address such elements as building façade colors and materials, signage, exterior window treatments, (e.g. awnings, shutters), building lighting, and sidewalk ameni-ties such as lampposts and benches. The objective isn’t to produce a street filled with buildings that all look the same, but to create an attractive pedestrian atmos-phere with compatible and lively storefronts. Using design guidelines to attract people to downtown is similar to the way manufacturers use appealing packaging to sell their products.
