Can Landmarks List structures be changed?
Yes, landmark structures can be changed. The LPC has no authority over the interior or use of any landmark structure. For the exteriors of these structures, the LPC can and customarily does approve changes, including additions, provided that they are in keeping with the major character-defining features that make the structure historically significant. The basic principle is to retain and rehabilitate – rather than needlessly replace – the building’s historic materials (especially windows, doors and siding) so that the building retains its physical integrity as a representative of itself and its time in history. The details of the evaluations will, of course, vary from building to building, but the Commission does try diligently to balance its responsibility for adhering to proper standards with accommodating the owners’ preferences.
