The initial draft of the voluntary Oil City Design Guide for historic properties will be presented at a public meeting in Council Chambers of City Hall, 21 Seneca Street, on Thursday April 13, 5:30 -7:00 pm. Residential and commercial property owners, downtown business representatives and all interested community stakeholders are invited to attend.

The guide is being prepared by citySTUDIO of Pittsburgh, PA and T&B Planning of Murrysville, PA; and is being presided over by a local steering committee. Its purpose is to serve as a reference for property owners, contractors, design professionals, tradespeople, and others who are interested in the treatment and maintenance of historic properties. The guide will include an overview of the city’s history, examples of architectural styles found in the districts, recommendations for the exterior maintenance and improvements of older structures, and other topics pertaining to both residential and commercial buildings.

The guide is a project of the Oil City Main Street Program. Funding for the project is being provided through a Keystone Historic Preservation Project Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, with additional funding from the National Park Service via the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism, the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Northwest Charitable Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Suhr, Jr., Take Pride in Oil City, and other private sources.

At the public meeting, copies of the guide will be available for review, and a timeline for public feedback will be outlined. A final Public Meeting will be scheduled in mid-July. Questions may be directed to the Oil City Main Street Program office at 814-677-3152.