To provide guidance to the archetects and developers in the design of building or buildings appropriate to the Ivaloo St. setting in accord with the Zoning Ordinance of the city of Somerville. Various buildings are use to illustrate design features that are compatible or incompatible with the neighborhood. We have tried to keep matters of taste to a minimum. This document does not address neighborhood concerns such as traffic, safety, parking, density, and flooding. It is strictly about design.

In Article 4: The development (as an alteration or renovation of existing nonconforming structure) must "not be substantially more detrimental to... visual effects and neighborhood character." (p. 5-5, repeated p. 5-11)

In Article 5: "Buildings should be generally of the same size and proportions as those existing in the neighborhood. This shall apply in cases of multi-family development as well as one-, two-, and three-family units. For example, if relatively small two- and three- family structures are common in a neighborhood where multi-family development is proposed, the multi-family development should be physically broken into components that, from a design perspective, are housed in buildings of similar width, deph, and height as those found in the neighborhood." (p. 5-5, repeated p. 5-11)

"The development of the site... is designed in a manner that is compatible with the characteristics of the surrounding area, and that the scale, massing, and detailing of buildings are compatible with those prevalent in the surrounding area."

The pages that follow contain examples from the Ivaloo St. neighborhood. These show its character, scale, massing, and detailing, and building's size and proportions.

This is followed by examples of local residential developments by Alex Steinbergh, Peter Quinn, Thomas Costagliola, and others with discussion of features and appropriateness to the Ivaloo St. setting.

The Ivaloo St. development presents a particular challenge in being longer than any of the examples shown. We need to avoid the monolithic overpowering quality of many of these developments. We need to echo the character of the small 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 story homes typical of our neighborhood.