A consistently high standard should be applied in determining whether an individual structure or district merits landmark protection.
Whether standing on its own or within a historic district, a building receiving landmark protection should be of historic significance, exemplifying high-quality architecture and having features or history that merit the increased costs and regulation associated with LPC oversight. Historic districts should not be designated solely to preserve the scale of a neighborhood or to make an end-run around zoning.
Historic districts should be narrowly drawn to represent a cohesive and consistent character. Vacant lots and substantially altered or non-contributing buildings should not be included on the perimeters of a historic district, and historic districts that contain more than 10% vacant lots, significantly altered, or non-contributing buildings should be rejected.