To gain signatures, the Neighborhood Committee Petitioned us to
- Establish setbacks, height restrictions, etc., that would prevent bloated new builds, and,
- To “save historic houses.”
During the Neighborhood meetings, however, the process went beyond this, deciding that Non-Contributory styles must stay in their lane.
The Committee members share an aesthetic preference for houses in one of the 5 Contributing Styles. That is their right, of course. They don’t have to appreciate architecture beyond 1946. But they have designed an ordinance with the goal of ridding the neighborhood of what they consider non-contributing houses like yours:
“The idea being that eventually all non-contributing houses will be replaced in a contributing style.”
Trevor Brown, City of Dallas during CD-2 Expansion Meeting
- Remodeling Restrictions
- Extra Layer of Permits
- More Cost
- Remodeling Restriction
- Remodeling is limited to:
- the home’s current style.
- or a Contributing Style, which is not cost-effective or realistic.
- Devalues Non-Contributing Homes.
- Limits the pool of buyers for Non-Contributing Homes.
- Disproportionately burdens older and less wealthy neighbors
- Two sets of plans.
- Elevation drawings.
- Area photographs.
- A site plan.
- A survey.
- Photographs of other property structures.
- Elevation of the proposed foundation.
Additional cost for an architect to get achieve approved plans.
Additional cost for a contractor to get approval for any materials not approved by the city.
Rebuilding is limited to the 5 Contributing Styles.
BUT
It isn’t easy to build in any of the 5 Styles
Conservation District Work Review Requirement Form
Both columns scroll. Click on a page in the left column to navigate to the right column. Enlarge by clicking “+.”
Lack of innovation in the neighborhood
“The idea being that eventually all non-contributing houses will be replaced in a contributing style.”
Trevor Brown, City of Dallas
If we adopt this CD2 Expansion, our neighborhood will become a Disneyland of only five styles, losing the architectural evolution and innovation it now enjoys, becoming not a better neighborhood but a more consistent development.
NEXT: How Did This Happen, Teardowns that Upset the Committee
Related Content
Architectural Styles in the Draft Ordinance