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06.28.2018 •
CHARACTER-DEFINING What Does Historic Preservation
FEATURES Mean?
Character-defining features include
the overall shape of the building, Preservation means keeping properties and places of historic and cultural
its materials, craftsmanship and value in active use and accommodating appropriate improvements to
decorative details, as well as the sustain their viability, while maintaining the character-defining features
various aspects of its site and which contribute to their significance as historic resources. It also means
environment. In addition, interior keeping historic resources for the benefit of future generations. That is, while
spaces and features are also important;
however, this document only maintaining properties in active use is the immediate objective, this is in part
addresses exterior features. a means of assuring that these resources will be available for others to enjoy
in the future.
DETERMINING HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE
What makes a property historically significant? A property is considered
to have historic significance if it meets a list of criteria for determining
significance. It also must retain sufficient integrity to be able to convey that
significance. Those concepts are explained in this section.
Age of Historic Resources
In general, properties must be at least 50 years old before they can be
evaluated for potential historic significance, although exceptions do
exist when a more recent property clearly has historic value. Properties
determined to have historic significance in State College’s historic districts
meet the threshold and also fit within a period of historic significance. With
the age of the property in mind, it is then evaluated for its significance, using
defined criteria.
Criteria for Determining Significance
The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology,
engineering and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings and objects that
possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling
and association, and:
• That are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
• That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our
past; or
• That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
method of construction, or that represent the work of a master,
possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and
distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual
distinction; or
• That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information
important in prehistory or history.
16 STATE COLLEGE, PA • HERITAGE STATE COLLEGE DESIGN GUIDELINES
