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

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Six in favor,one opposed. Vote:6—1. Motion to approve COA#2019-1007A-Continued,section two with wood siding,with final product details remanded to staff,is approved. Commissioner Gellman stated that the vinyl siding has been denied. Legal Counsel Kennedy clarified that the approved motion is a denial of the original application,and that Commissioners should state their reasons for denial. Roll was called. Commissioner Downs-Krostenko(AVE): I vote to deny because,the holy grail of our business is the exterior preservation of these buildings,and changing the material and the dimensions of the material does radically change the appearance of the house,it also involves demolishing the existing wood siding,and once you do something like that to the house,you can pretty much guarantee that it probably will never come back. If the wood stays underneath there,someone may come along and say, `oh,I'm going to make arrangements to take off the nasty vinyl siding and repair the woodwork and the carpentry and make it beautiful again.' Once you remove it,you pretty much put a stake through the heart of the building in terms of its integrity and value in the exterior. Commissioner Annis(AYE):I vote to deny,as the product is outside of the recommendation of the standards. Our job is to uphold the Standards. Commissioner Deegan(NAY): Commissioner Hertel(AYE): I vote to deny,as the product is outside of the standards and guidelines of what would be appropriate for the house of that historic time. Commissioner Gelfman(AYE):I vote to deny,due to the fact that, 1)this farmstead is notable,which is critical in St.Joseph County and the City as well. 2)If we are to keep the integrity of historical preservation that exists for hundreds and hundreds of years,we have to look at the standards and the guidelines that have been set,and we need to follow them as best we can. I understand that this is a difficult situation because of the cost of it,unfortunately one of the things that comes along with a historical home,which I think all of us own,is that—the cost of the renovations of it. One of the things that Dr. [Krostenko-]Downs did recommend that might be helpful to you is to just do it a section at a time,over so many years. I understand that is difficult as well,but if you are doing this yourself,then that lessens the amount,not just for the wood itself,but for the labor and everything else that is involved with it. Commissioner Ponder(AYE):I vote to deny for the reasons already stated based in the guidelines,as well as for the precedence that it sets. If we allow you to do it—and yes,I understand the financial hardship—if someone else comes with a smaller project,then they will use this as leverage to say, 'hey,you let them do it,why can't you let us do it?' Again,we must follow the guidelines that have been laid out. Commissioner Stalheim(AYE): I vote to deny based upon all of the reasons previously stated. Application to install vinyl siding is denied. Page 12