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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: October 8,2019 <br />Application Number: 2019-1007A <br />Property Location: 60649 Hickory Road <br />Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder:Gabled-Ell/Stick/1869/"Gerry Battles Farm" <br />Property Owner: Ben and Carrie Modlin <br />Landmark or District Designation: Historic Landmark(Ordinance#127-78) <br />Rating: Notable <br />DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: 2-1/2 story Gabled-Ell/Stick style on a rough dressed stone foundation.Roof is <br />cross plan with gable front and jerkin head side gable.Front porch has a single turned post,rear porch is slightly projecting with <br />turned posts and a concrete stoop.The walls are original wood weatherboard shiplap siding with corner boards.Front windows <br />have a wood,raised head with labels where other windows have plain labels.There is a two-story bay window with scrolled <br />brackets.The side bay has a jerkin head roof with art nouveau scrolled decorations on the fascia.Front gable end has an ornate <br />scrollwork decorative fascia,with pendants.There are two front doors with transoms,one with a full light. <br />ALTERATIONS: The St.Joseph County ordinance in 1978 designating and establishing the Historic Landmark originally <br />included 80 acres.The parcel has since been subdivided and was annexed to the City of South Bend in 1989.While the farm <br />mostly retains the plan of its original buildings,changes to the property without COA are evidenced on aerial maps including <br />the removal of a silo,removal of a small outbuilding to the southwest corner,and removal/modem replacement of the upper <br />portion of the bank barn,retaining the foundation. <br />COA 1988-0512 approved tear off roofing,redeck with plywood;apply new shingles with fiberglass Owens-Corning 3-in-1 <br />type.COA 2011-0310 approved tear off and re-roof with 3&l shingle and new decking-felt paper ice shield. <br />Windows are noted on the 1999 survey card as mostly 2/2 light but have since been replaced with 1/l vinyl double hung(no <br />COA on record)as evidenced in photos dating back to 2011. <br />Current owners have removed the original wood weatherboard shiplap siding on the south and west sides,installing new <br />artificial siding without COA. <br />APPLICATION ITEMS: "Removal ofdecayed existing siding.animal feces.bat habitat exclusion.beehives.mold. <br />waterlogged and damaged material,removal of wet cellulose insulation from within the wall cavity.Installation ofnew <br />fiberglass batt insulation,new exterior grade sheathing, Tyvek house wrap,new flashings,new Celect Cellular Composite PVC <br />Wood simulated siding and architectural trim material. Construction methods to follow the manufacturer's written <br />specifications.Please see supporting documentation." <br />See additional written description of project. <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Applicant seeks a retroactive Certificate of Appropriateness for changes on <br />the structure: <br />3. Remove original wood weatherboard shiplap siding on house, <br />a. Completed on south and west sides <br />4. Install Celect Cellular Composite PVC Wood simulated siding and architectural trim material <br />a. Completed on south and west sides <br />Prior to the current owners,the property had a long history of deferred maintenance and vacancy,including a 2009 staff memo <br />in the file noting the siding as"rotting".In 2012,Commission staff met with new owner Ben Modlin to go over the scope of <br />work,including"exterior routine maintenance and repair",although no Certificate of Appropriateness applications are on file. <br />In May 2017,Commission staff mailed a Minimum Maintenance Standards letter to the Modlin's,commending their efforts to <br />maintain and preserve the historic character of the property that included a reminder that any project that affects the exterior of <br />the building,site,outbuildings,grounds,or landscaping will require review,and a completed COA application,with a reference <br />to the Standards. <br />The siding replacement without COA or Building Permit was discovered by Historic Preservation staff during St Joseph County <br />Historic Landmark site visits on 8/27/19 and reported to the Building Department.The Building Department posted a cease and <br />desist on 8/30/19,followed by a Violation letter 9/18/19. <br />The original wood weatherboard shiplap siding,corner boards,and wood,raised head labels at windows are important in <br />defining the overall historic character of the building.As evidenced by the owner's description and supporting photographs,the <br />original siding demonstrates an advanced state of deterioration and has become permeable to water.Furthermore,the <br />discoveries made inside the wall cavities provides reasonable cause for removing the original siding to remediate the materials