Group approves color palette for downtown buildings

By Debbie Ingram

Published: January 8, 2009

Classic revival stone gets a thumbs up. So does rockwood red, bottle green and rockwood amber. It’s a no go with power blue, burma jade and Caribbean coral.

Members of the Historic Preservation Commission adopted three palettes of Sherwin Williams colors Thursday, accepting them as historically appropriate exterior colors for downtown buildings.

While these are not the only colors that can be used on downtown buildings, they are all pre-approved and can expedite the process for those working on downtown projects. Developers and tenants will not have to burn a month or more waiting for the commission to meet and approve their color, if one of these is selected.

“It makes it simpler for people,” said Planning Director Todd McDonald. “We can approve it right away.”

The three palettes include eight colors in the Classical/Colonial palette; 24 colors in the Victorian palette; and 16 colors in the Arts & Crafts palette. The group rejected 16 colors in the Suburban Modern palette, which they described as being more beach cottage or Seaside shades.

Colors in these palettes include both pale and pastel shades of gray, yellow and white, and bold dark shades of brown, green, and red.

The commission also approved the use of the color black for trim, doors and iron or aluminum fencing.