A 1920s Craftsman bungalow typical of the neighborhood.
Beacon Hill was designated a Neighborhood Conservation District in 2005. An NCD is a zoning tool used to preserve, revitalize, protect, and enhance significant older areas within a community beyond what is specified in the standard City code. The conservation district regulations are applied in addition to standard zoning regulations and will usually take precedence. NCD regulations will differ from neighborhood to neighborhood depending on the area’s character and needs.
While a number of historical styles exist in Beacon Hill, the intent of the design standards is not to replicate the styles, but to ensure the historically common site/building configurations are perpetuated in the future. The standards are less about architectural style and more about maintaining the development patterns in the neighborhood.
A good first step when planning any building or renovation project is to check the NCD-5 standards. (It’s an interesting read written in plain English with good illustrations.) Our neighborhood association’s Zoning and Urban Design Committee (ZUD) is also ready to answer questions and give guidance.
An example of new construction that both conforms to the NCD and fits the neighborhood stylistically.
Midtown Neighborhoods Plan
Click here to read the Midtown Neighborhoods Plan.
The Midtown Neighborhoods Plan is a partnership effort of the Beacon Hill Neighborhood, the Alta Vista Neighborhood, the St. Ann’s Neighborhood, MidTown on Blanco, and the City’s Planning Department.
Developed by neighbors, businesses, neighborhood associations, community organizations, churches, schools, developers, investors, and other interested groups, the Midtown Neighborhoods Plan is a blueprint for action. By setting goals, objectives and action steps, the neighborhoods create a vision and identify the steps needed to reach their goals. This plan organizes many of the neighborhoods’ ideas into a single document that can be shared with residents, potential community partners, and investors.