Compliance with Bristol Historic District Commission (BHDC) building regulations is mandatory within the historic district, as any Bristol historic property owner knows. We should all expect the proposed Belvedere at Thames project to be subject to the same strict requirements.

The BHDC guidelines (found on the Bristol website), which regulate building within the historic district, apply to the Belvedere project. First, consider some general goals of the historic district ordinance: “1. Safeguard the heritage of Bristol ... 3. Maintain and foster the civic beauty of Bristol; ... 5. Promote the use of historic districts and other designated structures for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of Bristol.”

These goals are intended to benefit town residents and visitors, and often place a greater financial burden on historic property owners in terms of higher repair and renovation costs, higher taxes, or lost economic opportunity. Nowhere will you find that the historic designation can be used to monetize a property at the expense of the common good.

Maintaining historic character of the district may override historic property owners’ personal profit. The guidelines make this explicit in this sentence: “The historic or architectural value and significance of a particular structure and its relationship to the historic or architectural value of the surrounding area will be of prime importance.”

The waterfront between Church and Franklin streets is singled out specifically “because of its unique physical, historical, and environmental characteristics.” The BHDC guidelines contain general requirements for new construction on Thames Street, including: “3) With the exceptions of the mill complexes on the north and south ends of Thames Street, the area is characterized by small buildings on conventional sized lots. This small scale should be respected and new projects should not require the combining of existing lots.” The Belvedere project fails these requirements completely, both in its massive size and its combining of lots.

If this does not discourage you, consider some specific criteria. The Guidelines require: “2 – BUILDING SHAPE: the relationship between horizontal and vertical thrust of the structure should be designed in the context of the historic buildings in the immediate area.” Belvedere fails this requirement totally.

The project design is not similar to any nearby buildings. You will not find another huge flat top box in the surrounding area. The roof shape alone does not fit in the neighborhood. Another specific criteria is “4 – Building Openings: Consideration will be given to the number, size and shape of all doors and windows...”. The fenestration has more in common with a hospital than with Thames Street.

Specific criteria “5-EXTERIOR APPENDAGES” has us consider the two rectilinear turrets on the building roof. No neighboring building has similar roof top utilitarian sheds.

Specific Criteria “8-PARKING” states that the “Garage entrance should not be on the street front,” which the Belvedere plan has. A Bristol historic property owner would not get approval for a construction plan with these defects. The proposed Belvedere at Thames project should not be approved with the same defects.

Caroline Jacobus

35 Church St., Bristol