Knowing the Process

When working with a Historical Review Board such as we have in Tampa, it's very important to know the process well if you hope to gain approval for your project.

The process begins with a "Due Diligence" investigation to obtain such information as; does the structures meet current setback rules, if there are protected trees on the property, etc. In our pursuit of approval, we also begin with a face-to-face meeting with the Architectural Review Commission to explain what the client's hopes are for the property, and get the input of the Commission on these proposals. This can be an early form of intervention if there is any aspect of the project that the ARC won't support.

Then design work begins. At this point, it involves meetings with the client to ascertain their expectations, and translating them to a design.

Once the floor plans are approved by the client, then the exterior elevations are next. For ARC (and aesthetic) consideration, careful attention is paid to duplicate appropriate materials and finishes--however, the ARC will regard the new plans to look for a perceived delineation between the original structure and the addition.

In the case of this project, a secondary structure (garage and studio) were also up for approval.

Because appropriate measures were taken on the front end of the project to meet all necessary guidelines, this project sailed through for complete approval. In fact, in this case the ARC was very excited to see that a home in a historic neighborhood that had been considered for complete demolition would now be rehabilitated, and brought back to be a beautiful and vital part of the neighborhood!