Design Guidelines - Senatobia, Mississippi

IntroductIon
goalS of the deSIgn guIdelIneS for SenatoBIa, mISSISSIppI
v Protect the unique architectural characteristics of Senatobia’s downtown
buildings and environment located within the Downtown Historic
Districts.
v Provide a guide for renovation and new construction based on the
below-noted philosophy:
~ Prefer new construction to be interpretations rather than imitations of historic
buildings.
~ Provide illustrative, positive case studies of desired design direction.
~ Promote numerous “can do” solutions rather than only impose what “cannot be
done.”
~Process to be an opportunity to educate the public on design-related issues.
v Provide an objective guide for design review decisions.
v Develop guidelines that direct the physical design of downtown
without creating unnecessary barriers to development.
v In general, the goals of the Senatobia Design Guidelines are to:
~ Preserve and enhance the aesthetic beauty of the downtown district;
~ Protect and celebrate the architectural heritage of Senatobia;
~ Preserve and protect older architectural features;
~ Maintain a pedestrian friendly environment;
~ Use historic assets for economic development and community revitalization;
~ Safeguard investment by the public and private sector in downtown;
~ Promote heritage tourism; and
~ Foster appropriate development.
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PurPose &
Goals of THe
DesiGn GuiDelines
The intent of the design review
process is to ensure that new construction
and proposed alterations to
existing properties will not adversely
affect the architectural character of
downtown Senatobia as articulated in
the goals at left. The Historic Preservation
Commission has adopted the
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
for Rehabilitation as the basis for
guidance on rehabilitation design for
historic properties. These guidelines
expand those Standards and bring
focus to Senatobia’s own historic
context and resources.
The two-fold purpose of the
design guidelines is the same
regardless of whether the application
concerns an existing property or a
proposal for new construction. First,
providing the owners of downtown
properties assistance in making decisions
about maintenance, improvements,
or architecturally sensitive
design within an existing context.
Second, providing the Historic
Preservation Commission with a
framework for objective evaluation of
proposed improvements or designs.
These guidelines reflect the Historic
Preservation Commission’s philosophy
that underlies all its decisions: to
encourage the preservation and careful
treatment of the city’s historically
significant resources, while recognizing
the need for continuing adaptation
and improvements to these
resources as well as the introduction
of new architectural assets.
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