The neighborhoods and their houses
Midtown Harrisburg Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1983, with a period of significance running from 1825 to 1924. Its streets are lined with Late Victorian and Federal-style rowhouses.
Allison Hill takes its name from William Allison, who owned farms on the bluff outside the early borough. Rail spurs in the 1870s brought factories, and the factory owners built much of the housing for their workers: brick rowhouses, many in an Italianate style.
The Mount Pleasant Historic District was developed between 1880 and 1920, mixing working-class rowhouses with manufacturers' mansions, churches and schools. Summit Terrace is the city's only Architectural Conservation Overlay District, created in 1998.
What Harrisburg roofs need
- Low-slope membrane roofs on main roofs and rear additions; see rowhouse and flat roofs.
- Flashing at every party wall and at every step down over a rear wing.
- Covered, pitched tops on front cornices so they shed water.
- Slate or metal on some larger houses; see slate and metal roofs.
- Plans for access on narrow streets and alleys.
Historic districts and HARB
In Harrisburg's local historic districts, the city's historic architecture board (HARB) advises City Council on whether to issue certificates of appropriateness. Changes visible from the street, such as a new front-slope material or work on a cornice, may need one before the job starts.
Ask before you choose
A call to the city's planning staff before you pick a material can save weeks. Like-for-like replacement is usually the simplest path in a historic district.
Permits and contracts
Pennsylvania's code generally exempts residential re-roofing from a state building permit, but municipalities may require one, and historic rules apply on their own track. Check with the city, and see Pennsylvania roof permits and checking a Pennsylvania roofer.
Questions
+Can I replace just my rowhouse roof if my neighbors do not replace theirs?
Yes. The roofer ties the new roof into the neighbors' roofs at the party walls. Ask exactly how that joint will be flashed.
+Is my house in a Harrisburg historic district?
The city's planning office can confirm whether your property is in a local historic district or the Summit Terrace overlay. National Register listing alone is a different thing.