Signage

Awnings

Another typical feature on historic buildings on Kenmore Boulevard is awnings. In addition to providing shelter from sun and rain on the sidewalk, awnings can add interest to the façade of buildings with color, secondary signage, and/or graphics. Awnings should be scaled and located on your building so that it complements the storefront. It is preferred that awnings are shed style with openends or so that the sides are not covered. Other awning styles are discouraged unless documented with historical evidence. Additionally, the awning design must be in line with the standards set by the City of Akron’s Form Based Code for Kenmore Boulevard. See also the Preservation Brief on The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings, Repair, Replacement and New Design.

Above: Various awning examples

Entrance Doors

The importance of entrance doors is often overlooked. Elements such as material, color, door handle and overall design reflect the history of the building and quality of the business one is about to enter. Doors that are original to a historic building should be retained and repaired. Where it is necessary to be replaced, it is recommended that the materials and design of new entrance doors is based on historic evidence. In absence of historic information, the design of a new entrance door can be based on typical historic doors found on Kenmore Boulevard. These styles can include a wide style wood or painted metal door or a stile and rail type doors. The door should have a tall bottom rail. A single panel, solid or glass is acceptable for most historic time periods. Multi-panel doors, especially highly decorative ones are discouraged unless historic evidence shows that they were part of the original design.

Above: Examples of wood and metal entry doors