| The history of this country's preservation commissions, design review, and design guidelines reveals the legal basis for designation and regulation of local historic districts and buildings. State enabling legislation and preservation ordinances are the legal tools which authorize communities to establish preservation commissions and empower them with the ability to protect historic environs through design review.;Design guidelines from thirteen communities in the southeast are analyzed and their elements are categorized according to major design components. Matrices are developed for each of the following design criterion: building types; urban design relationships; the facade; climatic responses; site details; mechanical equipment; and signage. |
