(i) Building exteriors shall have vertical and/or horizontal offsets to create visual breaks on the exterior. Long, monotonous, uninterrupted walls or roof planes shall be avoided. Building wall offsets, including projections such as balconies, canopies, awnings, and signs, recesses, and changes in floor level shall be used in order to add architectural interest and variety and to relieve the visual effect of a simple, long wall (see Figure 2). Similarly, roofline offsets, dormers, or gables shall be provided in order to provide architectural interest and variety to the massing of a building and to relieve the effect of a single, long roof.

Figure 2: Example of block front elevation with horizontal and vertical offsets to add visual interest.

(j) The front doors of all buildings shall be visible from the street. If located more than 10 feet from the front building line, their location must be reinforced with additional graphics, lighting, marquees or canopies.

(k) Functional building entrances shall be provided at an average of at least every 75 feet (see Figure 3, taken from LEED-ND Rating System NPD Credit 1). All entrances to a building, except service and emergency egress doors, shall be defined and articulated by architectural elements such as lintels, pediments, pilasters, columns, porticoes, porches, overhangs, railings, balustrades and other elements, where appropriate. Any such element utilized shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the building as a whole, as shall the doors. The main entrance shall face the street on which the property fronts.

Figure 3: Example of functional building entries at minimum average distances along blocks.

(l) A minimum of one facade element shall align horizontally with adjacent buildings. Facade elements include, but are not limited to, rooftops, cornices, signs, storefront windows, windows above the first floor and awnings. Awnings are encouraged. There should be a balance between variety and harmony of building facades. Maintain the similarity in the building width. New or larger buildings on parcels shall incorporate architectural elements which reflect the width of adjacent buildings. Successful methods for achieving this include, but are not limited to, window pattern and detail placement.

(m) In general, it is preferred to keep the street facade built to the property line in alignment with adjacent buildings.

(n) Windows shall be primarily vertically proportioned. Large areas of glass curtain walls or strip windows of more than 15 feet in length are discouraged, as are tinted and highly reflective glass. Window openings shall have sills and heads of masonry or stone. These may be of precast concrete, limestone, granite, brick soldier courses, or slabs exposed only for the length of the window. Masonry units may be turned at the wall opening to visually create a thick wall and should be used in the design of balconies, loggias and larger openings.