MHDC Historic Marker Program

About the Program

Serving as an award for excellent restoration of a historic property and as a public education tool, the Historic Building Marker Program is one of the Mobile Historic Development Commission’s most visible and important programs. Buildings must be located within one of Mobile’s 7 locally designated Historic Districts or be individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places.. A building located in a district must be 75 years of age in order to qualify for marking. In the case of an individual listing, a building must be at least 50 years of age. While a building must reach those age plateaus in order to be considered for marking, a building must have also retained its original architectural character and be well restored or maintained.

The colorful markers are composed of two parts: the banner bears the name of the MHDC and beneath it the original owner’s name followed by the name of the present owner. The colorful shield displays the symbols of the 6 flags that have flown over Mobile--the French fleur-de-lis, the British Union Jack; the Spanish Royal Banner; the flag of the Republic of Alabama, the 11-Star Confederate States of America Flag, and the flag of the United States.

Markers are awarded twice a year, in June and December. Application deadlines are March 1 and September 1, respectively. A Committee of the Mobile Historic Development Commission reviews applications. Committee members review the property in terms of guidelines and will make recommendations to the property owner should maintenance work be required.

Guidelines for Awarding Historic Building Markers

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Only portions of a building visible from the street will be reviewed. The interior of a building is not subject to evaluation.

The building should represent the architectural style in which it was constructed.
Original materials must be maintained or duplicated where necessary.
Exterior finish materials should be appropriate to the building’s style and period.
All exterior finishes should be in good condition.
Mechanical equipment should be unobtrusively located.

ROOF:

The original form and pitch of the main building should be maintained. Roofing materials should be consistent.

Acceptable	Unacceptable
- slate - tile - wood shingles - asbestos shingles - asphalt or fiberglass shingles - standing seam metal or 5 v crimp - pressed metal shingles	- corrugated fiberglass - asphalt roll roofing - corrugated metal

PORCH:

The porch is an important aspect of Mobile’s vernacular architectural tradition and must retain its original configuration, height and details. A screened or infilled porch may be acceptable providing the original details of the porch can be read and the new materials are appropriate.

COLUMNS:

Columns detail, material and proportions should be appropriate to the building’s style. Where known, they should match the original.

BALUSTRADE:

A balustrade consists of a top rail, bottom rail and intermediate members. A balustrade should be consistent with the architectural style of the building.

ENTRANCE STEPS/HANDICAPPED ACCESS RAMPS:

Steps should be appropriately scaled to the building. Ramps should be unobtrusive.

Acceptable	Unacceptable
- wood steps with closed risers & sides - brick steps - stuccoed masonry steps - stone steps	- pre-fabricated concrete steps - wood steps with open sides and risers

STAIR RAILS:

The design of the stair rails should be consistent with the design of the balustrade and the style of the buildings. (Painted pipe rails, simple in design and appropriately scaled are acceptable).

DOORS:

The entranceway shall be consistent with the architectural style of the building. Screen doors on the front should be of wood and should not detract from the building’s appearance. All other exterior doors should be consistent with the style of the building.

WINDOWS:

Windows must reflect the architectural style of the building. The original window openings, sash and muntin patterns shall be retained.

STORM WINDOWS:

Interior storm windows are recommended. When used, storm windows should be single pane or match the sash pattern of historic windows. When used, storm window frames must have an anodized finish to match the sash color. Mill (silver) finish storm window frames are unacceptable.

SCREENS:

Screen frames may be of wood or anodized metal to match the window sash color.Mill (silver) finish screen frames are unacceptable.

SHUTTERS AND AWNINGS:

Shutters must be of wood. Shutters may be operable or fixed but must fit the window openings as if they are operable.

Acceptable	Unacceptable
- shutters with fixed or operable louvers - shutters with panels - fabric awnings properly scaled	- vinyl shutters - metal shutters - shutters on casement windows - metal awnings - Bermuda shutters - decorative shutters unless historic precedent can be shown

BURGLAR BARS:

It is preferred that burglar bars not be used. When used, they should be simple in design.

FOUNDATION:

Foundation treatment should be consistent.

Acceptable	Unacceptable
- framed lattice hung between piers and recessed from the face of the pier - brick recessed behind piers with appropriate venting - stuccoed concrete block recessed behind piers with appropriate venting - open foundation	- fiberglass sheets - tar paper - polyurethane sheeting - plywood - exposed concrete block

ADDITIONS:

Additions may mimic the historic structure or comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. These standards require differentiation between the historic structure and the addition.

FENCES AND WALLS:

Fences and walls in view of the street shall be designed and constructed of materials to reflect the style, period and character of the building they abut or enclose.

Procedure for Taking and Acting Upon Applications for Historic Building Markers

MHDC Historic Building Marker Procedures

Historic Building Markers are awarded twice yearly, in June and December.
Application deadlines are March 1 and September 1, respectively.
A non-refundable application fee must accompany the application. Costs are $75 for the banner, $75 for the shield, or $125 for both banner and shield.
Applications for Historic Building Markers may be obtained by calling the office at (251) 208-7281 or by visiting our website.
The application package contains program procedures, criteria, guidelines, and an application form.
Please mail your application and check to
Mobile Historic Development Commission, P.O. Box 1827, Mobile, AL 36633-1827.
The Marker Committee generally meets monthly to consider applications. If a property does not meet certain guidelines, the Committee will suggest ways in which the property can be modified to qualify for marking. Often this involves issues of maintenance. Any exterior work required by the Marking Committee must be completed by the application deadline.
Before beginning repairs, the proposed work must be approved by the Architectural Review Board. This is required by City Ordinance and independent of the marking process.
Following the application deadline, the Committee will meet to decide on its final recommendations to the Commission. The Commission may accept, reject, or modify the Committee's recommendations.
Applicants will be notified of the Commission's decision by letter.
Markers are presented at a semi-annual awards reception.

Criteria for Awarding Building Markers

The Mobile Historic Development Commission awards Historic Building Markers for the purpose of making the public aware that a building is an important element of the city's built environment. It may be of historic importance or be a local example of a particular architectural style. The Marker program also awards good stewardship; a building must be well restored or maintained to qualify for marking.

The Marker is composed of two separate parts - the banner and the shield. The banner displays the construction date(s) of the building as well as the names of the original and current owners. The shield represents the six flags that have flown over Mobile - those of France, Great Britain, Spain, the Republic of Alabama, the Confederacy, and the United States.

The criteria for awarding Mobile Historic Building Markers are as follows:

The building must be a contributing building located in a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as in a locally designated historic district, or be individually listed or eligible for individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places;
The building must be at least seventy-five (75) years old (or if individually listed on the NRHP, fifty (50) years old);
The building must be researched and the original owner and construction date must be documented by the Mobile Historic Development Commission staff;
The building's exterior must be restored or properly maintained in accordance with its historical style and character;
All changes and alterations to the building's exterior must be consistent with its historic architectural style and character;
In the event that a building has been moved from its site, it must retain a sense of its historic architectural style and integrity;
All restoration and rehabilitation work to the building must generally conform to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

Please note:

Review Board criteria meet minimum architectural standards, thus their approval does not necessarily qualify the rehabilitation to receive a marker. When applying to the Board, it is helpful to alert the Review Board to your goal of obtaining a marker.

Replacement Banners and Shields: Generally the structure should exhibit superior maintenance and have had no alterations violating the program's criteria since the original marking. However, alterations replacing missing documented elements are strongly encouraged.

Buildings that have been Awarded Markers

In this Section