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Commissioner Hertel clarified that the three options are 1)select PVC siding at$11,230,2)the Cedar siding at$40,470 plus
<br />painting and labor,and 3)vinyl siding.
<br />Administrator Feasel clarified her interpretation of the Kimmel quote(which read"scrape and paint")as having been to
<br />rehabilitate the original siding,it was clarified that this was to paint all of the new material to be installed and the old
<br />trim and eave details material.
<br />PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
<br />Mr.Mark Modlin,519 Benton Street,Mishawaka—the father of the applicant. Mr.Modlin spoke of how the project"was
<br />going to be a big undertaking,and that they were able to get the house but they were probably the last best hope for
<br />the house. The house was vacant and in ruin for a long time. It had a lot of ongoing deterioration,but I think he made
<br />a pretty good purchase with a good effort to make it a home. And I think in making it a home,they are heading in the
<br />right direct. The costs for replication of a lot of the products are prohibitive,a homeowner who is just getting started.
<br />It is a beautiful home,and I think it could be a very long term home for these kids."
<br />Joan Downs-Krostenko,849 Forest Avenue—"I have restored nine houses,and have put lots of new wood siding where original
<br />wood siding was damaged or had been rotted out,so I'm familiar with that. And I've painted all of these houses,so I
<br />am familiar with that. My question with this is—is every piece of siding on that house rotten? Is your bid to take it
<br />all off and replace it? Every bit of wood on the house is rotten?
<br />Mr.Modlin stated every bit of siding is rotten.
<br />Ms.Downs-Krostenko stated:"So every bit of siding is rotten. [Specialist Toering],is that accurate?"
<br />Commissioner Hertel stated that there were two areas that have already been replaced.
<br />Administrator Feasel stated that staff has not conducted a site visit to determine the condition of the structure.
<br />Ms.Downs-Krostenko stated that she had never seen a house where all of the wood was rotten. In most cases,you need to
<br />replace 10-15%of the wood. This could be the exception,but mostly you do not see that all of the wood needs to be
<br />replaced. In her experience,she has never heard of any case where all of the wood is fully rotten. Finally,the holy
<br />grail of historic preservation is to avoid vinyl siding,plastic siding,metal siding,all the kinds of replacement siding
<br />that do not replicate the material,texture,reveal of the original siding,and often times ruin the trim. That is the entire
<br />point of what we do here,and I do appreciate the cost of what you are doing here,because I have confronted it exactly
<br />like you have. Many,many times. I have always been able to salvage most of that original wood. Scraping,priming,
<br />all of that is expensive,but I have found ways to do that inexpensively,in pieces where I can afford to do it,a little bit
<br />at a time.
<br />Mr.Modlin stated that there were significant amounts of bat feces.
<br />Mr.Modlin,Sr.stated that there was also rot,and mice feces. It's a health hazard.
<br />Ms.Downs-Krostenko reiterated that the agenda of historic preservation is to replace with in kind materials,and that can be
<br />done over time. When you do open the door for alternative materials,then you might have a really big project that has
<br />all of these problems,but then the next project comes in and its smaller,and the applicant says"but you let these
<br />people do it,you let them put up vinyl." Then we are in a real big giant pile of bad stuff.
<br />COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION:
<br />Commissioner Hertel stated that,if this this was a new project,the`things underneath',we would not know. In those other
<br />projects,as those things are revealed,they would be addressed. So the bees,the cellulose insulation would be
<br />addressed as it is found to make the home habitable.
<br />Commissioner Stalheim stated that Commission would support that action.
<br />Commissioner Hertel explained that the applicant has lived in the house for multiple years,that they have known the COA
<br />process(as noted in the letter that is included in your packet dated 2017). That the applicant received glowing
<br />statements regarding the preservation of the structure at that time,"we are thrilled to see the condition of your home
<br />and commend your efforts to preserve your historic property."
<br />Commissioner Ponder asked about the alternative materials that had been mentioned.
<br />Administrator Feasel explained that staff included those materials as they had been previously approved by the Commission,
<br />that it was unknown what those materials would cost,and that staff would prefer an in-kind replacement with wood
<br />ship-lap siding.
<br />Commissioner Stalheim stated they may be offered,but they be more expensive because this is an atypical mill pattern.
<br />Administrator Feasel stated that she had interpreted the Kimmel quote as a quote for rehabilitation of the existing siding,and
<br />that Staff has not seen the material,nor has an estimate has been received. The house is more than likely balloon-
<br />frame construction,so an expert may know of a way to open up the walls to remove the insulation material.
<br />Commissioner Brazinksy stated that she had owned a similar house in Wisconsin and that they removed the bottom boards and
<br />removed the insulation. She then stripped and painted the siding. The house was not a(designated)historic home.
<br />Administrator Feasel stated that were this a proactive application,that would have been the first thing that Staff would have
<br />suggested to the applicant,what is the cost of doing that. Because this project is partially retroactive,it's taken us a
<br />bit off guard. Were it proactive,that's how we would have addressed this project. I think that's missing from this
<br />project application.
<br />Mr.Modlin stated that there is no vapor barrier,and that they'd have to remove it all. That doing all wood is prohibitively
<br />expensive.
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