The majority of the City of Wilmington’s housing stock dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and, in general, retains much of its original design and integrity. According to a recent report by the Lewin Group, over 15% of the housing stock within New Castle County was built before 1939, and the City of Wilmington accounted for most of these pre-1939 units.

Facade Treatments

Neighborhood Conservation Districts seek to preserve the principle façade(s) of existing structures visible from the public right of way or street. The crucial aspects involve the appearance of the facade(s) and the fenestration (e.g., placement of openings) of windows, doors and related trim.

1)  Materials

a)  Original Materials

1)  Brick or stone that was originally unpainted should remain so, since irreversible damage can result from attempts to remove paint by methods such as sandblasting. Painting or covering original brick or stone is discouraged.

2)  Retain significant character defining wooden or metal facade elements. Examples include cornice brackets, gingerbread, decorative trim elements, ornamental barge/fascia board, and soffit.

b)  Maintenance

1)  The United States Department of the Interior's publication, Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings indicates that light detergents and water are the only acceptable methods for cleaning masonry.  However, certain chemical stripping agents are safe to use on masonry surfaces within controlled environments, and are acceptable to use. Upon request, the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office [(302) 739-5685] or the City of Wilmington Preservation Planner [(302) 576-3100] can provide details as to these cleaning agents.

2) Sandblasting and other methods that utilize harsh abrasives/chemicals,
or contents under high pressure are not permitted.

3) When repointing masonry, every effort must be made to duplicate the
original strength and color of the original mortar, so as not to damage
the brick or stone face due to spalling and to help the repair blend in
with the original work.

2) Roofs

a)  Existing roofs that are visible from the public right of way should retain
their profile as it relates to shape and slope. Appropriate roof treatments in
Neighborhood Conservation Districts include dimensional shingles, real or
synthetic slate shingles, wooden shakes or standing seam metal.

b)  Historic systems that are integral to the roof, such as flashing, and
leader/conductor boxes, built-in gutters, downspouts or snow guards,
should be retained and maintained on a regular basis, as these types of
systems often were crafted of heavy gauge, resilient materials such as
copper or zinc and generally outperform modern materials, as well as
retain a patina and contribute to the appearance of the structure.

c)  Buildings that incorporate a sloped roof, such as a gable and/or hipped
roof, often feature decorative elements that should be retained, including
but not limited to, roof cresting, ridge caps and finials.

3) Doors

a)  Replacement doors should be sized to fit in the existing opening. The
opening should not be altered so as to accept either a smaller door
(e.g., filling in excess space with material such as lumber, bricks or
cement blocks) or to facilitate a larger door or doors (e.g., knocking out
part of the surrounding wall and reframing the opening).

4) Windows

a) Window openings should not be altered to accommodate replacement
windows (e.g., "blocking down" or "blocking in" the opening).

b) Replacement windows should relate to and be appropriate for the age
and architectural style of the structure.

c) In situations where original windows remain, every effort should be
made to repair such windows, rather than replace them outright. Storm
windows, whether triple track exterior storm windows or interior storm
windows, are allowed to help insulate the original, single-paned
windows and contribute to the building's energy efficiency.

5) Porches

a)  Character defining details, such as decorative wooden or metal trim,
turned wooden or cast iron columns, sections of the balustrade
(e.g., spindles, newel posts and hand/top railings), and skirting should
be retained. Every effort should be made to repair damaged portions of
original materials.

b)  Porch roofs and their original character defining features, such as shed
roofs commonly found on rowhouses or gabled roofs specified on semi-
detached twins or detached homes, should be retained.

c)  Original porch flooring or ceiling materials, such as tongue and groove
planks, also known as center matched strip flooring (also used as a
ceiling material), should be preserved and retained wherever possible,
or replaced in kind.

NEW CONSTRUCTION/ADDITIONS

Building Materials, Proportion and Profile

Materials to be used for repairs to, or new additions to, existing buildings should harmonize with existing materials. Appropriate wall materials shall include, but not be limited to, brick, stone, stucco, natural wood or cementious siding. Any side, front or rear addition that is visible from the primary street, and which increases the footprint of the main building, would be reviewed.

1)  Roofs:

a)  For new construction, the principal roofline should be consistent with the
adjacent streetscape.

b)  New additions must respect the existing building's roof profile and, if
visible from the primary street, be in harmony with it in terms of form,
texture and color.

c)  Appropriate roofing materials, when visible from the public right of way, should consist of dimensional shingles, real or artificial slate, wooden shakes or standing seam metal.

2) Doors:

a)  For new construction, principal facades facing the street shall contain
an entry door.

1)  For corner properties, either façade facing the street can qualify as
'primary,' and thus be eligible for placement of the entry door.

3) Porches:

a)  Residential new construction should incorporate a front or side porch, if a
porch exists on the immediately adjacent properties within the block face.

4) Windows:

a)  Primary windows should be harmonious with adjacent properties and
generally reflect vertical proportions (e.g., taller than they are wide).
Accessory or ornamental windows such as gable windows, sidelights and
transom windows are allowed.

5) Utilities:

a)  Utilities, such as gas and electric meters, should not be placed on
or along the primary façade of new residential or commercial
structures, when possible.

b)  Where visibility of utilities is an issue, they should be:

1)  painted so as to blend into the background.

2)  screened with vegetation so as to minimize the impact on the
facade.

3)  placed at or near ground level.

c)  HVAC equipment should be placed on or along the rear façade or
rear half of secondary facades and be screened from view by
vegetation or fencing as referenced below.

d)  Cable television accessories, such as dishes and antennae, should
be located on the rear half of the side facades or rear half of the
roof, out of plain view where possible.

6)  Fencing:

a)  All matters regarding fencing to be located in the front yard, or front and
side yards of a corner property, shall fall under the jurisdiction of the
amended portion of Chapter 48 of the Zoning Code, particularly
§ 48-424 (a)(4).

b)  The fencing policy, adopted by the Design Review & Preservation
Commission in January of 2003, will apply to the review of applications
for fencing.

7)  Topography:

a)  The site for new construction which is within view of the public right
of way shall be in harmony with existing topographical features,
especially berms, historical retaining walls and rolling terrain typical
of the neighborhood.