Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Building Setbacks
Short building setbacks help define the main street corridor and make it more comfortable and inviting because
the buildings enclose a manageable space. New construction should mirror traditional setbacks on the main
street corridor. Offices and residential buildings should
be placed relatively close to the street. To attract pedestrians, all retail buildings should sit directly against sidewalks with parking located along the street or located at
the rear.
Typical 25’ to 30’ setback along the residential section of Bridge Street.
Typical 10’ setback from the curb along State Street.
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Building Height & Scale
The proportion of the buildings fronting the main street
corridor are critical to the image of the villages. The
height and scale of new buildings should follow the traditional character of the main street corridor. Two and
three-story buildings should be encouraged in the neighborhood centers. Single-story commercial structures typical of new construction, often do not create the strong
sense of enclosure that is so inviting in older areas, and
unnecessarily consume landscape. Two to three story
buildings further enhance the definition of the main street
corridor. One-story houses are acceptable towards the
rural village edge, but should be avoided along the main
street corridor.
Two-story commercial, West Carthage
Three to Four story commercial, Carthage
Traditional housing stock, West Carthage
Traditional housing stock, Carthage
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Infill
Consistent architectural massing is a significant component of the main street corridor. In some places in
Carthage and West Carthage, especially within the neighborhood centers, architectural massing breaks down due
to vacant building lots and the encroachment of parking
areas along the street. New developments need to reflect
the existing adjacent building characteristics. If the construction of new buildings is unlikely in the near future,
an effort to reestablish the architectural presence at these
open areas, can be accomplished by screen walls or
false facades. For example, the Tag Alders storefront in
Carthage could be returned to its historic facade even
if the rest of the building is torn down or completely
rebuilt.
Existing vacant building in West Carthage.
Potential treatment with streetscape improvements and new devlopment.
Existing Tag Alders storefront. Note the drab facade that ignores the
historic characteristics of State Street.
One treatment option is the re-exposure of the brick facade and the
demolition of the remaining building for additional parking. Ideally a
modern infill building could be built directly behind the brick facade.
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Housing
The most successful communities are those that have the
young and old, the poor and wealthy, singles and families living in close proximity to each other. This type of
population makes for a better social quality of life and
improves economic sustainability. The Villages currently
consists of a diverse range of housing along the main
street corridor. Strategies in attracting a diverse population should continue.
Small amounts of affordable housing are included in the
make-up of diverse communities. Opportunities for low
and middle-cost housing can be mixed with other residential and non-residential uses. A typical arrangement
of affordable housing includes apartments above commercial space. Private building owners should consider
affordable housing programs that offer subsidies to retail
developers.
Improved and expanded housing and/or office space opportunities along
State Street.
With the aging of the baby boomers, the use of the vacant
second and third floors in Carthage for senior citizen
(assisted) housing should be encouraged. This type of
housing could be possible with the installation of one
elevator and expansion of apartments on the same level
through multiple structures.
Subsidized housing should also be integrated invisibly
into the Main Street neighborhoods. Whether apartments
or houses, subsidized housing should not look different
than market rate housing and should blend in with adjacent housing in scale and architectural detail. An acceptable ratio of subsidized housing is one to ten.
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Main Street Signage
Signs on buildings should balance the need for visibility to the motorist and scale and quality in relation to the pedestrian. Ideally each storefront in the neighborhood centers should have unique design guidelines. Usually the storefront
should be much more detailed than the rest of the building’s upper stories. Glass should front the stores and be clear and
take up to at least 75% of the storefront level. No signs should be placed in the glass portion of the storefront, except cut
lettering affixed to the glass. The storefront should be painted in a gloss finish. Awnings should be large and rectangular
at the first floor level of the buildings. Translucent signs and awnings should be discouraged because they create an
unpleasant glow. Each store should be allowed one flush sign and one blade (hanging) sign per facade. Signage located
outside the neighborhood centers should reflect the historic housing stock with wood signs mounted on two posts (see
examples below).
Acceptable signage in the commercial district of Carthage. Example of
blade sign and one front store sign.
Unacceptable signage in the residential district of West Carthage.
Example of signage that accommodates the visibility to motorists, but is
out of scale with pedestrians and out of character with the surrounding
residential architecture.
Example of charming eclectic storefront signage.
Acceptable signage throughout the main street corridor. Example of
sandblasted wood signage (illuminated from an outside source).
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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Design Guidelines
Public & Private Buildings
Public Buildings
Public buildings such as libraries, swimming arenas, or
ice rink facilities should be centrally located within villages to encourage pedestrian access. Public buildings
should also have strong architectural character that indicate a proud, contributing amenity for the community.
The Carthage post office is a good example of appropriate
public building placement and architecture.
Carthage post ofce as example of good location and aesthetic choice.
Minimizing Unsightly Details
Each building should be entitled to its own identity in
the private vicinity, but in areas exposed to the main
street corridor, items like chain link fencing, radar dishes,
antennas, air conditioning units, and garbage dumpsters
should be located in rear yards or sideyards.
Chain link fencing should not occur along the
main street corridor.
Dumpsters should not be visible from the main
street corridor.
Environmental Design & Research, P.C.
Final Draft: December 20, 2001
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