Ben and Carrie Modlin vs. Historic Preservation Commission (COA#2019-1007A)

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