09-12-16 Council Packet and Agenda

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Description of Building: The Elbel House is part of the Chapin Park Local Historic District, as well as Chapin Park National Register Historic District. The house is in the Queen Anne style with two full stories, as well as a basement, and finished attic with windows. The frame house with brick foundation has an irregular plan. Wood siding covers the first floor, while the second floor and attic gables are covered in wood shingle siding. The roof is pyramidal in design with cross gables, asphalt shingles, and molded cornices below the eaves. The windows are one - over -one double hung with molded entablatures. The corner windows on the south fagade have pendills and the front and back doors are wood with dentils and light. The porch has a coffered front pediment; balustrade, wooden columns resting on the original masonry supports, and concrete porch floor and steps. Location Notes/Legal Description: The land referred to in this Commitment, situated in the County of St Joseph, State of Indiana, is described as follows: Lot 11 Shetterly Place 1A Addition. Landmarks Criteria: The life of Richard Elbel and his impact on South Bend makes his home an ideal candidate for local landmark status. The Elbel family's musical legacy to the city of South Bend through formation of the first choral society and the Elbel Concert Band and Orchestra, and establishment of Elbel Brothers Music Store had a major impact on the city's life and culture from its early days. Richard Elbel's service to the city through the Park Board, his passion for preservation of green space, and his vision for city planning, especially streets and parks, resulted in improvements that survive to present day. The Elbel house is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture, typical of the Victorian period. Both the interior and exterior remain largely intact, with interior alterations made during a 1950's conversion to apartments being reversed as of 2016. The interior features 12 foot ceilings, hard wood floors, solid wood pocket doors, and the original fireplace which preserves its carved wooden mantel with columns, tile work and metal built -in surround. The house retains many of its original solid wood paneled doors and Orientalized hardware. Additionally, an elaborate foyer with a stairwell featuring delicately carved spindles and paneling, as well as two built -in wooden benches, with lids which lift for storage, mark the house as architecturally significant.