Criteria for judgment of historic value and design excellence should be more fully developed, with attention to both individual buildings and the entire district. Preservation efforts should extend beyond landmarks to their surroundings as well. Preservation measures should not, however, be entirely bound by hard and fast rules and labels, since to some degree all older buildings of merit are worthy of preservation and public attention. Therefore, various kinds and degrees of recognition are required, and the success of the Gaslamp Quarter Planned District will depend upon the broad interest and involvement of property owners, improvement associations and the public at large. The signs placed on building facades should be in keeping with the style and scale of the building and street and should not interfere with architectural lines and details.
Compatible signs require the skills of architects and graphic designers.
The interest and participation of property owners and occupants should be enlisted in these efforts to retain and improve design quality. Care should be exercised in the design of new buildings to be constructed near historic landmarks. The new and old can stand next to one another with pleasing effects, but only if there is a similarity or successful transition in scale, building form and proportion. The detail, texture, color and materials of the old should be repeated or complemented by the new. Existing buildings provide strong facades that give continuous enclosure to the street space.