City Awarded Grant to Update Design Guidelines

City of Fernandina Beach Press Release

Submitted by

Adrienne Burke – City Planner

The Florida Division of Historical Resources recently awarded the City a $19,500 grant to complete updates to design guidelines for both the Downtown and Old Town Historic Districts. The guidelines were last updated in 1999 by the University of Florida. The goals to be accomplished in this update are: incorporate historic preservation issues that were not addressed in 1999, provide an opportunity to enhance the images and graphics in the guidelines, and make the documents more accessible to the public.

General historic preservation issues not included in 1999 that will be addressed include the increasing interest of property owners in using new building materials and products. Other topics that have emerged since 1999 are the relationship between historic preservation and sustainability, and retrofitting historic buildings for aging populations and those with disabilities. Various local preservation topics needing attention, such as the placement of garages in new construction, will also be addressed.

The updates will use color graphics and provide updated photographs and/or the use of drawings to illustrate architecture and preservation principles. Photos or drawings showing recommended options versus options that are not recommended may also be included.

Revisions are also planned to help make the documents easier to read. New electronic versions will be provided. Linked electronic files will be placed on the City’s website, so that readers may easily navigate within the documents.

The City will be soliciting proposals in July for a consultant to complete the work. Selection of the consultant will take place in August, and the City anticipates the project will take place from September 2012 to January 2013. Updates on the process will occur at meetings of the Historic District Council, to be determined. This project has been funded by a Small Matching Grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources, with no match requirement from the City.

For more information, please call the City of Fernandina Beach Community Development Department at 904-277-7325 or email Adrienne Burke at [email protected].

July 3, 2012

3:35 p.m.