Plan would protect neighborhood integrity

Most everyone around here is familiar with the idea of historic districts — parts of town recognized for their old buildings and significant events.

But Charlestonians now may need to get used to hearing about "conservation" districts.

These aren't necessarily historic, at least not in the traditional sense, but they're parts of town that have landmarks, homes, views or landscapes that may be worthy of more attention and protection than they have at the present time.

"It's not just buildings that are historic and important," says Yvonne Fortenberry, head of the Charleston's Department of Design, Development and Preservation. "Preservation is a bigger issue that's broader than structures."

Take Byrnes Downs, for instance.

Horse-drawn carriages are not going to clomp down the leafy streets of this mid-20th-century neighborhood just off Savannah Highway anytime soon.

There's not going to be any rush to erect historical markers that detail the lives of former residents. Tour buses won't slow down traffic on Lyttleton Avenue.

But that doesn't mean that there's nothing to protect. The 1940s neighborhood is a collection of modest brick homes that aren't necessarily architecturally significant by themselves but that complement each other to create a coherent, attractive neighborhood.

So far, Charleston has been largely immune to the "tear down" trend that has plagued other cities. That's what happens when people buy a small home in an older neighborhood, tear it down and build something much bigger — something so out of scale with the rest of the neighborhood that its owners need all that interior space because if they spent any time outside, in their tiny yard, they would be bombarded with dirty looks from their neighbors.

Don't think it can't happen here, or that we shouldn't act before it does.

This isn't to say that the city's Board of Architectural Review's domain should extend up and down Savannah Highway and monitor what color home- owners paint their trim or where they install their satellite dishes.

But it is to say that there may be some new board — or some new zoning or height limits — that could help keep Byrnes Downs and other old, coherent neighborhoods intact. That's the general idea behind a "conservation district."

The idea of analyzing the character of new parts of the city and finding creative ways to preserve them is just one of many novel ideas contained in the draft version of the new Charleston Historic Preservation Plan —a plan that will be presented publicly three times this week.

The plan also looks at issues of accessibility, affordability and sustainability. It recommends the city pass a new ordinance requiring a minimal level of archaeology for anyone wanting to sink a new foundation into certain sensitive spots in the city.

Some recommendations could happen quickly, such as the idea of lowering the age of review. Currently, buildings in certain parts of Charleston must be 75 years old before the public has any say-so in their proposed demolition. That could drop to 50 years.

Other changes will take longer.

For instance, the city likely will move slowly on a recommendation to extend the Board of Architectural Review juris- diction to the interior of government buildings that are considered among the most significant in the city.

Eddie Bello, director of the city's architecture and preservation division, says the plan also recommends preserving a diversity of uses and creating a city preservation manual that would give homeowners free advice before they even put together an application to the BAR.

"I'm surprised," he says, "but a lot of people just don't know a lot about old buildings."

Robert Behre may be reached at 937-5771 or by fax at 937-5579. His e-mail address is rbehre@postandcourier.com, and his mailing address is 134 Columbus St., Charleston, SC 29403. 937-5771 or by at