Glen Ridge Historic Design Guidelines: Historic Preservation Commission Paperback – September 27, 2021

The HPC created Design Guidelines for the Glen Ridge Historic District to codify the long-standing design principles utilized in the review and approval of renovations, repairs, and expansion of properties in Glen Ridge. Funded by a grant from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service, these guidelines provide an easy-to-use reference document for residents, architects, and contractors to plan projects and facilitate the HPCs design review process. The Design Guidelines are intended to further the appreciation of the architecture, setting, and history of Glen Ridge, to help ensure consistency in local decision-making, and to benefit property owners by clarifying community expectations. These Design Guidelines offer information on the rehabilitation of existing buildings, including new additions and new construction, to offer a common body of knowledge for all participants in the review process, including Commission members.The HPC recognized that applying design guidelines is often challenging, especially in Glen Ridge, where there is so much variety in the architecture. These Design Guidelines are intended to codify the objective basis for the HPC’s decisions and help increase public awareness of historically appropriate design. However, the Design Guidelines do not offer all of the answers or solutions to a homeowner or design team as good architectural design cannot be achieved only by applying a set of rules. The challenge for both the homeowner and the HPC member is knowing how to apply the Design Guidelines to make sound judgments that will help preserve the architectural character of Glen Ridge while also allowing expressions of change and adaptation. Read more