City of Punta Gorda, FL
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Historic Districts
Punta Gorda, incorporated in 1887, has a rich and unique history. In order to protect and encourage the preservation of the places, buildings, and other structures that comprise the physical evidence of our community's history, the City of Punta Gorda contains a Historic Districts Overlay regulating district with four (4) subdistricts. In addition to stricter regulations regarding the demolition and renovation of historic structures, development in this district must comply with a more select range of architectural styles that directly reflect the character of past and existing historic structures.
Downtown Historic District
This sub-district preserves and enhances the largest remaining cluster of historic commercial and residential buildings in Punta Gorda. The Downtown Historic District covers all or part of 30 city blocks. This district stretches west from the traditional commercial core and contains mostly residential structures. The period of historic significance for the district is 1884 to 1930. Most contributing structures are Frame Vernacular or Queen Anne style, dating from the mid 1880’s to the late 1910’s. There are several structures reflecting the 1920’s Florida Land Boom, including the Neo-Classical Revival Punta Gorda City Hall.
Neighborhood Conservation District
The locally designated Neighborhood Conservation District covers all or part of 24 city blocks. This district stretches east of the commercial core and recognizes Punta Gorda’s traditionally African-American neighborhood. It once contained a tiny yet thriving commercial district centered on Cochran St (now Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd). The district contains the Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County. Across from the museum is the Bailey Bothers Park, which recognizes five brothers who served their country with honor in World War II and Korea as well as other members of the African American community which helped shape Punta Gorda’s past and present. This sub-district enhances the historically platted neighborhoods East of US 41 by encouraging new traditional development that will restore this once vibrant and bustling historic neighborhood.
Main Street Historic District
The locally designated Main Street Historic District covers all or part of 13 city blocks. This district covers the traditional, historic, commercial area of the city. This district contains a vibrant mix of historic and new structures. Key historic structures include the National Register listed Punta Gorda Ice House on Tamiami Trail, the Punta Gorda Women’s Club on Sullivan Street, and the Old First National Bank of Punta Gorda building. This sub-district preserves and enhances the historic low-rise commercial buildings in Downtown Punta Gorda, ensuring that new development on both sides of these streets is compatible and create a more complete and cohesive traditional main street district.
Grace Street Mid-Century Modern Historic District
The locally designated Grace Street Mid-Century Modern Historic District covers all of 3 city blocks. This sub-district preserves and enhances the unique cluster of ranch-style homes built in the 1950s and 1960s along W Ann and W Grace Street between Berry and McGregor Street. New residential development and renovations in this district must comply with architectural standards that preserve the mid-century modern architectural style of the existing historic structures.
Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) (link to page)
The HPAB is an officially appointed Board of the City of Punta Gorda whose primary responsibility is to advise City Council on all matters of historical importance. One of the key roles of the HPAB is to identify for the City Council historically significant structures and sites that should be considered for the designation as a “Local Historic Landmark” or be nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Living in the Historic District
Due to the city's rich history, no structure, building, or sign shall be erected, reconstructed, altered, or restored on property within a Historic Overlay (HO) district until a Certificate of Appropriateness (CA) has been submitted to and approved by the City.
A structure shall include anything man-made, including but not limited to outbuildings, fences, walls, lamp posts, light fixtures, signs, signposts, driveways, walkways, and paving.
These provisions shall not apply to the regular maintenance of structures, buildings, or signs.
All applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness shall follow the architectural provisions of the City's Land development Regulations. For purposes of review, Certificate of Appropriateness applications shall be divided into two separate categories:
- Staff Review - Staff Review shall be processed through a staff level review and approval
- Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) Recommendation - HPAB recommendations shall be required from the HPAB prior to staff action.
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