Independence Historic Preservation Design Guidelines

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE TRUMAN HERITAGE DISTRICT AND PRESERVATION PLANNING, INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI

As part of the process of designating the Truman Heritage Historic District, Independence, Missouri hired STRATA Architecture Inc. to write a set of Design Guidelines in collaboration with City staff in 1998. The original design guidelines took the form of a manual which gave easy to understand descriptions of architectural styles, recommendations for appropriate rehabilitation/restoration of historic properties. They also included information on building elements such as windows and doors, appropriate design and use of building additions, new in-fill construction, outbuildings (such as garages, carriage houses, storage buildings), and site landscape design elements.

These design guidelines were updated by STRATA in collaboration with the City of Independence in 2010-11 to include the following: all of the locally designated historic properties and districts, a broader history of the entire City of Independence, new illustrations and photographs, and revisions to recommendations for both residential and commercial properties. They also include expanded maintenance and reference guides which include new materials, construction methods, and two new chapters on energy efficiency and sustainability. All rehabilitation guidelines were created to be in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment Historic Properties, and the final design guidelines were reviewed and approved by the Missouri SHPO and City’s Heritage Commission.