HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCD PLThe NCD uses criteria for determining whether building changes within Pierce-
Lockwood NCD are commensurate with its goals of: preserving the architectural style
and general size of the homes, the closeness of the neighborhood, the affordability of
the homes in relation to the Lexington real estate market, and to emphasize the role this
area played in the historical development of Lexington.
1. Coherence
This may be defined as having a sense of logical interconnectedness,
consistency and harmony among parts. There is a balance between a home’s
uniqueness and its commonality with surrounding houses. This balance is vital to
the neighborhood’s palpable and pleasing identity that we wish to preserve.
Architectural Features
Architectural changes maintain a “harmony among parts” to the home. For
instance, a sliding glass door in the front facing side of the house would not be
fitting within the home’s existing architectural features.
Architectural changes maintain consistency with surrounding homes. A sliding
door would not be fitting with the architectural style of the bungalow, colonial and
Georgian style homes of the neighborhood.
2. Proportion
This may be defined as having comparative proper relation between things or
magnitudes as to size, quantity, ratio, number, etc. .
Home Size
A change in size leading to a large massing in relation to surrounding homes’
size means taken as a whole, the house is out of proportion to the neighborhood.
Further, an add-on that creates large massing can create indefinability to its
original shape, affecting its aesthetics and that of the P-L NCD (aesthetics is
further discussed below). Massing or size in relation to lot size is also an
important consideration since the homes in the neighborhood do not “push the
envelope”, increasing up to town setback and height strictures. Thus coherence
and proportion are preserved.
Wealth
Changes that lead to major increases in gross floor size often appeal to wealthy
buyers. The reality of profound differences in buyer’s wealth, in such cases,
undermine NCD homes’ affordability. Disproportionality in this sense may
encourage distancing and withdrawal rather than respectful connection and
welcome that our neighborhood is known for.
3. Aesthetics
Aesthetics may be characterized as having a reverence for what’s beautiful.
A neighborhood’s sense of beauty is indeed is its homes’ uniqueness within
commonality and includes considerations such as shape, color and landscaping
that fits within the natural beauty surrounding the P-L NCD. It can be defined by
the P-L NCD’s history, its relationship to the East Village historic district and to
historical Lexington.
The NCD considers these criteria not singly but rather, in combination with the
aim to fulfill the stated goals of the P-L NCD.