December 2017, State College Borough Council passed Ordinance 2104 which created a Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB), to oversee regulated activities within the Holmes Foster/Highlands and College Heights historic districts. The HARB historic districts protect the quality of the architecture in the districts and safeguard architectural heritage by establishing a thoughtful review process for some changes to the exterior of buildings in order to prevent hasty or inappropriate alterations or demolition. New construction and additions are assessed according to how the proposed change will affect the appearance of a building or overall character of the street, and whether significant architectural features will be hidden, damaged or lost.
If your property is not on one of the lists above and your property is located in the HARB, then your property is noncontributing. If you have any questions, please call (814) 234-7109 to speak with the Planning Department.
The following section is your one-stop-shop to learn more about the HARB.
How would I apply for a HARB review?
To discuss your proposed changes, call and make an appointment to meet with a staff member of the Planning Department. You will be advised by staff whether a HARB review is required and what documents you will need to provide.
If a review is required, you must complete a Certification of Appropriateness Application. For the application, you will have to describe your proposal in detail and submit current photographs of the neighboring properties, your property, as well as dimensional plans or drawings of the proposed changes to your property.
What is a HARB?