Summary

The distinctiveness of an area is created by its predominant characteristics, not the exceptions or deviations. While the Vieux Carré has variety in building designs, this variety is within discernable limits. Uncontrolled variation or designs out of context will not preserve the Quarter's distinctiveness.

Though change is inevitable, even in a historic district, accommodating the Vieux Carré to the requirements of contemporary life should not be achieved at the cost of the integrity of the historic district's unique environment.

Original architecturally significant design features shall be retained.

Repair rather than replacement is preferred wherever possible. Where replacement is necessary, it should conform in design, detail and quality of material to the original or to existing compatible modifications.

Existing significant additions or modifications that are compatible with original designs and the Quarter's distinctive character should be retained as evidence of historical development. In most cases attempts "to restore" by returning to the initial appearance of a building will violate the sense of historical continuity, which is an important factor of the area's distinctiveness.

Adaptive use in a historic district means adopting a compatible use for the building, a use that will not require major structural or exterior alterations to adapt the building to a new use. The Vieux Carré Commission is not bound to allow every permitted use to be accommodated in every building.

All structures should be recognizable products of their time of construction. Contemporary design for additions to existing buildings and new structures is encouraged, but contemporary designs must be compatible with the distinctive character of the district and related to neighboring historic buildings in size, scale, materials, and site plan.

A fundamental design feature of the Vieux Carré's distinctive character is that its buildings are predominantly opaque enclosures with openings cut into the wall planes. Glass boxes or delineated structural framing would not be compatible in this context.

The size of buildings must be limited as heretofore indicated to preserve the scale of the district. Large scale buildings are alien to the distinctiveness of the Vieux Carré. Any good faith effort to comply with the legal requirement to preserve its distinctive character does not permit approval of large scale buildings.

Additionally, owner-occupancy continues to be an effective condition for maintaining the desireable character of an area and is of particular value in a historic district, not only because of daily personal contact, but, invariably, the owner is their because of the Historic District classification and its protective regulations. Owner-occupancy generally makes historic preservation more successful because owners usually spend more on property for their own use than on property for investment.