1) Approval of Rehabilitation Work
As per Section 22 (6) of the Alberta Historical Resources Act, "Notwithstanding any other Act, no person shall destroy, disturb, alter, restore or repair an historic resource or remove any historic object from an historic resource that has been designated under this section, without the written approval of the Council or person appointed by the Council for the purpose." The General Manager of the Planning and Development Department has been appointed by City Council as the approving authority for this purpose.
2) Compatible Uses
Wherever possible, the uses proposed for a Municipal Historic Resource shall be compatible with the existing building such that only minimal changes are required to the building. The use of a Municipal Historic Resource for its original purpose is desirable.
3) Original Character
The original distinctive qualities and character of the building as designated by the Municipal Historic Resource Bylaw should be preserved. The removal or alteration of any historical materials or features shall be avoided whenever possible.
4) The Historic Period
The Municipal Historic Resource should be recognized as a product of its own time. Alterations which are not based on historical fact or which recreate an earlier or a later design idiom shall be discouraged.
5) Witness to Change
Changes to the Municipal Historic Resource may have occurred over time. These alterations are evidence of the history and development of the building. Because this evolution may have acquired a significance in its own right, alterations to the original building should be recognized and respected where indicated.
6) Style and Craftsmanship
Distinctive stylistic features and examples of skilled craftsmanship which have been designated by the Municipal Historic Resource Bylaw shall be preserved and treated sensitively.
7) Repair and Replacement
Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced whenever possible. Where replacement is necessary, the new material should match the original as to composition, colour, texture, design, etc. The repair or replacement of architectural features shall be based on a sound knowledge of the original characteristics of the feature. Such knowledge shall be based on historical or pictorial evidence and not upon conjecture.
8) Cleaning
In all cases, surface cleaning shall be undertaken with the gentlest means available. Sandblasting in particular, but also other cleaning methods, damage historic buildings and should not be undertaken without thorough testing prior to use on a building. Sandblasting is NOT recommended on brick, stone or wood. In all instances, it should be ascertained that a building exterior is really in need of cleaning prior to undertaking the work.
9) Reversibility of Improvements
When the introduction of new elements or materials are necessary to stabilize or preserve a municipally designated historic resource, alterations shall be undertaken such that the new materials, should they fail, may be removed at a later date without damage to the original fabric of the Municipal Historic Resource. Where this is not possible (i.e. use of epoxy) only those methods and materials which have been thoroughly tested and found satisfactory in situ, shall be used.
10) Recording
Prior to undertaking any alterations, particularly in cases where alterations may threaten the building fabric (underpinning, moving structures), the applicant shall compile a complete record of the architectural features of the Municipal Historic Resource. Measured drawings and photographs of details may prove invaluable if major features are damaged or lost during the subsequent repair work.
11) Original Construction Details
In some historic structures, poor construction details or inappropriate materials resulted in rapid deterioration of certain building elements. In these instances, accurate reconstruction of the original detail will inevitably result in the failure of the element. Therefore, reconstruction should be undertaken in such a fashion as to duplicate the original appearance as closely as possible while using details based on sound construction practice.
12) Codes
At no time should the life and safety of occupants of a Municipal Historic Resource be deemed of lesser importance than the preservation of the original fabric of the Municipal Historic Resource. The required life and safety standards are those required by the current Alberta Building Code. However, notwithstanding these Code requirements, where the essential character of the structure is threatened by changes for Code reasons, every effort shall be made to achieve an equivalent safety standard by alternate means so as to minimize the impact on the historic fabric.
13) Improvements
Prior to undertaking any improvements, a schedule of alterations should be prepared. This schedule should include phasing of alterations where necessary due to program or budget restrictions. The type and timing of both short and long term maintenance work shall also be included.
14) Signs
As a general rule signs should be limited to signs which were originally present on the building. In instances where new uses or interpretive functions dictate the use of additional signs, these new elements should be integrated into the general design of the project. The size, typeface, graphics, and materials should be chosen to suit the period of the Municipal Historic Resource wherever possible. Avoid installing new signs such that the repair, replacement or removal of the signs damages the original fabric of the structure.