The Ideal Preservation Approach
New construction keeps a city dynamic and exciting. Thus, Pomona encourages new construction projects within historic preservation districts if the projects are compatible with surrounding structures and help to preserve the character of the district as a whole. Compatibility is archived not through attempts to slavishly reproduce historic styles but rather through the use of new technologies, building materials, and design ideas that should be reflected in the creation of structures that reflect but do not mimic historic structures. Elements of historic structures that should be reflected in new construction include height, mass, setback, window and door proportions, roof shape, façade direction, and rhythm and articulation
New construction projects require review by the Historic Preservation Commission. The more nearly a project conforms to the ideal, the more likely it is that the Commission will approve the project and issue a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Issues the Commission Will Consider When Reviewing Proposed New Construction Projects
· Whether the overall mass of new structures would be compatible with the height and bulk of surrounding structures
· Whether new structures would maintain setbacks that generally prevail in a district
· Whether new structure window and door proportions and relationships would harmonize with the existing historic architecture
· Whether the roofs of new structures would repeat the roof lines and elements such as gables and turrets that are common to surrounding historic structures
· Whether the vertical and horizontal elements of new structure facades would echo the dominant district façade expression
· Whether new structures would reflect the repetition of architectural details and materials that give the surrounding historic district its particular character
· Whether the location of buildings on the site reflect the historic character of the surrounding neighborhood. For example, in many historic neighborhoods garages are located to the rear of the lot.
For more information on historic preservation in Pomona, contact the City Planning Division at 505 South Garey Avenue, or call 909 620-2191.