HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES: New Garages

    My husband and I have been dancing our cars for fifteen years now.  You probably know the steps:  both partners shuffle out the door (one is wearing a robe); both hop in separate cars and start their engines; the partners back out simultaneously; one blows a kiss while the other drives away; the last one there pulls back into the driveway.  Our little dance is a royal pain, and it has led to my developing an on-going case of garage envy.  Having a functional garage is the thing I miss most about my former life in suburbia.

    Then I look at my charming little one-car garage, which is now more accurately called a gardening shed, and I know I did the right thing when I jacked it up, re-poured the cracked slab underneath, replaced a few support beams, and repaired the original garage doors.  I think it's adorable!  But it ain't gonna house no cars.  Indeed, some Mesta Park folks don't even have what I  have--whatever they DID have either fell down or got torn down long ago.  So, what's a garage-envyin' gal or guy to do?

    Lucky for all of us that new garages ARE permitted in Historic Preservation Districts, although our Guidelines state that "the retention of existing, historic garages is encouraged.  Refurbishment and modifications to historic garages to accommodate contemporary vehicles and lifestyles are preferred to demolition and replacement."  The Guidelines go on to say:  "New garages are permitted where a house does not have a garage, or where a new garage is necessary. . . . new garages should appear as secondary structures and not overwhelm or compete with the main building in size or form."  Here are some of the most important Guidelines to know about, if you want to apply to build a new garage (contact me with questions at hp@mestapark.org ):

• New garages should be compatible in size, scale, proportion, spacing, texture, setbacks, height, materials, color and detail to the main residential building and/or relate to similar garages within the neighborhood.
• New garages should follow the historic setback patterns of other garages in the streetscape or neighborhood.
• Garages may be of "modest" or "high-style" design.  In many instances, new garages should be "modest" of a simple rectangular plan and form, low-pitched gable or hip roof, and little or no ornamentation at the doors or windows. 
• A replacement garage may be two-stories in height when the original garage was 2-stories, or if located in a block where two-story garages are dominant or occur on adjoining property.  In those blocks that contain only one-story garages, new garages shall be one-story in height.
• At double garages, consideration should be given to the use of two single garage doors rather than one larger, double door.  This will maintain the scale and rhythm of older structures, making a two-car garage seem smaller and more compatible with the house.
• If a historic garage is to be removed to allow the construction of a new garage [which must have a Certificate of Appropriateness!], it is encouraged that the historic doors be salvaged and re-used at this new garage, or if this is not possible, that the historic garage door be replicated in the new garage design.

    Don't forget to contact me with questions.  If you're interested, I'll teach you the dance steps.  It's a dance that I've gotten used to, but I understand if you'd rather not learn this one.  Let me hear from you!