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Thx, yes, very minor painting, probably not even a full small paint can of touch ups. I've been forwarned about the historic guy being an interesting challenge one doesn't want in their lives.

I would just bring a sample of paint chip from my door to benjamin moore, they have historic colors that will closely match your sample. Then do the work on Saturday, I have seen so many people do this around my block. If it is more substantial than what you describe then talking with Dan Wrieden is the way to go.

We are not repainting. We're touching up scratches on our already historic painted door and window frames which were one before we bought.
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When we had our stoop painted we used the same colors that were already there, and they came from the Benjamin Moore Historic Color paint chart. We did have to get a Cert of No Effect from the city before the re-painting could be done.

There is no list of paint colors. You're supposed to get a certificate of no affect and have the historic preservation officer tell you what exact color your house should be.

Does anyone know the list of Historic Paint Colors for downtown Jersey City Harisimus Cove/Hamilton Park area?

Miller Paint Company has a list of historic colors that they offer for sale in their internet store. You can find out what colors were used during what era: http://www.millerpaint.com.

There are other paint companies online that also offer historic colors.

Good luck and thanks for preserving the historic character of our city. I'll be glad when someone braver than me discovers Bergen-Lafayette and starts restoring. Some of the architecture is gorgeous.

I would strongly suggest contacting Dan at the HPC.

If you are in in a historic district, and you plan to do anything to change the facade, you need to talk to them

Talk to Dan Wrieden at the Historic Preservation Commission

The US Dept. of Interior Standards for Rehabiliation only sets the criteria for how the colors are chosen NOT the actual colors themselves.

I think its highly commendable that you are actually willing to go that far... The fact is that keeping to the historical character really does go far in terms of propping up your prop values and those of your neighbors by developing "cache" for your neighborhood.

As for the actual color, you'll have to avail yourself of the HPO at 30 Montgomery to help with the selection of colors.

That's about all I can offer.

Mitts, is there a website for those department of interior standard colors that would help me to chose prior to the submission of the cnoe ? Thanks

With reference to jcgurl...

I'm afraid your advice is mistaken... Anything having to do with an exterior facade requires a CoNE (Certificate of No Effect) from the Historic Preservation Officer (14th floor at 30 Montgomery). Its a fairly simple process but you will need color chips/samples to present to the HPO for his approval.

Painting it with "some" historic color is not the right way to go. The paint color has to be consistent with Dept. of Interior Standards (so it not some random color or whim) in that the color is consistent and appropriate for your structure.

How do I know? Because I've gone through it.

Good Luck

Does someone has an updated link for the standard historical colors (facade, doors etc) ? I need to repaint a door and I want it to be exactly to the tone.

And don't overlook DAYGLO PUCE!
A side-offset with matching Madonnas is always a nice additional touch...especially in Downtown JC.

Hey, it's still Jersey City where the last mayor put up lighted St. Josephs, Jesuses, and shepherds and sheep all over City Hall's lawn.

When you try to class up your row house with images of Independence Hall, sit down and relax a few moments chanting..."IT'S JERSEY CITY!"

Eeriegal-- Yes, I noticed your steps too... and it was nighttime when I went by! But, I'm posting to let you know that painters I contracted with and who work downtown all the time told me you do *not* need approval from the historic preservation office for painting, as long as you choose one of those historic colors. So, paint away and good luck with everything!

Click on the district, and a map should pop up showing the exact boundaries.

http://www.cityofjerseycity.org/docs/neighborhoods.shtml

Since they obviously can't patrol EVERY street and note EVERY detail, a lot of what you can do without pre-approval, including painting, depends on the type of neighbors you have. Unfortunately, we are so paranoid of the snitches on our block now that we do everything by the book. One of our contractors recently told us that Mercer Street is particularly rife with uptight types who'll report people - even when they're doing work in the back and it's clearly not visible from a public right of way (and therefore not subject to approval). It doesn't stop them from trying. With all the problems JC has, you'd think people would have better things to do.

JadedJC,

Do you by chance know the exact historic boundaries are within Hamilton Park? One neighbor tells me were within, my other neighbor says were not. I made the mistake by calling City Hall a few years back...nobody knew...I got frustrated and hung up. I ended up using historic guidelines anyway to ensure we didn't have problems.

I'd just like to know for sure for future projects.

Thanks

At this point, I don't think we can go anywhere but ...well, UP, from the current paint choice. We'll cover up the metallic and then deal w/ the Historic folks!

If your place is in the historic district, you'll need to have the Historic Preservation Nazi sign off on the new color. You'll have to submit color samples, etc. They can send you an application. Believe me, we made the mistake of making a slight change to our facade, and next thing we knew, we were hit with a summons and had to go through the whole headache of proposing a remedy before the entire commission. You can't so much as change a doorknob without the Nazi signing off on it. If you are in a historic district and have managed to go uncited so far, then you're lucky that your neighbors aren't snitches. Mine are - they're always reporting people they think are doing something amiss, historic-wise. That is soooo NOT cool!

Keeping it is a nice sentiment, but unfortunately we'll probably be selling soon---and I don't know how marketable my space stairs would be...

Eireegal, the story about your staircase-to-the-future is so touching, I vote you keep the silver paint!

eeriegal,

Also terribly sorry about for your loss.

Good luck with your painting project!

No..no offense taken. Please...you made me laugh...come on, it's hilarious. When I saw them painting it I wanted to scream..but both of them are grieving (father-in-law, brother-in-law) and want so much to help me out---I just couldn't tell them to stop. So I let it go and like I said, it's provided some much needed levity around here. We've had some fun with it...and at this point, that's a good thing. Hopefully none of you have gone blind as a result!

Like I said in my original post, I didn't mean to insult you...

I am sorry to hear about your loss.

sincerley,
Your foot in mouth neighbor

Thanks for the Benjamin Moore listing..and yes, I AM PICKING OUT THE PAINT this time....and I think we'll go with a greyish-white or pearl...something a LITTLE less..ah, "flashy".

Come on, you KNOW you guys just wish you were bold enough to paint your stoop metallic silver! Believe me, amidst all the craziness that's going on in my life (2 kids under 3, recently widowed....etc...), my Roswell-like abduction steps have provided me with some much needed comic relief. I'm going to make sure we take some family photos on them tonight before they get painted (hopefully) tomorrow....

LOL. That is too funny! They are the conversation piece for that block.

Your siding is brownish, right? Go for a Cream/Pearl color..I like Benjamin Moore's historic colors...I bet you'll find one there.

Now...don't go making fun of my disco steps!!! It IS my house...and there's a story to those LOVELY steps!

You guys know I lost my husband a few weeks back..and well, that gorgeous space color was the handiwork of my very well-meaning (and apparently colorblind) father-in-law and brother-in-law. I'm almost virtually BLINDED every time I walk outside and have noticed several of you checking yourself out in the reflection....

(I'm surprised the historic police haven't given me a citation yet....)

Also...there's a gem on 7th...by the corner of Monmouth. Not kidding at all..the front porch is MAGENTA.

Eeriegal,

Whatever you do, do not use the house on Erie between 3rd & 4th as an inspiration! I do not believe Metalic Silver is on the Historic Color list... (I hope this is not your house, if so I am sorry )

You can look at Benjamin Moore Historic Color Chart on the below link or take a ride down to Tsgonia Paint on Grand Street / Communipaw and pickup some color samples to test a few out before you commit.


http://www.benjaminmoore.ca/colours/historical.aspx