Page 52 - State College, PA Design Guidelines

06.28.2018 •

Demolition Considerations

The information contained in this section provides general direction for
when demolition of part or all of a contributing main building is requested.
The demolition of a contributing historic main building is generally not
allowed, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

PARTIAL DEMOLITION

When a partial demolition of a contributing historic building is considered,
the impact on the building itself should be studied. The location of the
demolition and the visibility of that demolition is crucial; where the
demolition of a front or side wall is strongly discouraged, the demolition
of a rear wall may not raise the same concerns. The components being
demolished should also be considered. Demolishing any component of a
building that contains key character-defining features is strongly discouraged,
but demolishing a later addition that has not achieved historic significance
and does not negatively impact the historic building may be acceptable.

• Consider the visibility of the demolition from the public realm.
• Consider the historic significance of the components of the
building proposed to be demolished.
• Consider the integrity of the remaining historic structure
so that it is not compromised when removing the proposed
component(s).

FULL DEMOLITION

The full demolition of a contributing main building negatively impacts that
structure in the most serious way. The considerations and demolition
alternatives that follow should be reviewed prior to considering the full
demolition of a contributing main building.

SIGNIFICANCE
As an initial step, determine the significance of the historic structure. An
analysis should be undertaken to determine if the historic structure retains
its integrity. In some cases, a property previously identified as a contributing
historic building may no longer retain its integrity due to changes to the
structure since the time it was originally determined to be historic.

• Consider the current significance of a structure previously
determined to be historic.
• Consider whether the building is one of the last remaining
positive examples of its kind in the neighborhood, county, or
region.

46 STATE COLLEGE, PA • HERITAGE STATE COLLEGE DESIGN GUIDELINES