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UZK11rIUAlt Ur AVeRUY1lINTErNElSS STAFF REPORT PROPERTY -- 317 West Washington South Bend, Indiana OWNER -- Central High Associates DESIGNATION -- Local Landmark STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE /HISTORIC CONTEXT This former public school is rated Outstanding /13 in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. It was constructed between 1911 & 193 in the Free Classic style. The portion of the structure under consideration in this application is the Boiler house which was ,I believe, constructed in association with the Vocational addition in 1923. This structure is constructed in the 20th Century functional style and is not separately considered in the Indiana Historic Sites & Structures Survey. PROPOSED CHANGE The Owner proposes to demolish the Boiler House structure and its associated smokestack. STANDARDS The treatment level for this Local Landmark is the "B" standard. Landmark guidelines indicate that: 1) "Historic Landmarks shall not be demolished. When a landmark poses a threat to the public safety, and demolition is the only alternative, documentation by way of photographs, measured drawings, or other descriptive methods should be made of both the exterior and interior of the landmark. The person or agency responsible for the demolition of the landmark shall be responsible for the documentation." This standard was further expanded upon by the commission on 3 -16-92 as follows: "Demolition of a historic landmark or significant building in a historic district is disfavored and requires a certificate of appropriateness. Such a certificate of appropriateness shall be granted only if the owner demonstrates by submission of substantial competent evidence that: a) The property in its current condition is uneconomical or in substantial state of disrepair, deterioration, or structural instability not caused by the owner. b)Historically appropriate renovation or rehabilitation is either technically or economically impractical; and c) The owner has investigated and considered all reasonable alternatives to demolition, not simply the least expensive alternatives, and that all such alternatives such as sale, rental, or lease, of the__proper_ty_ have failed or _ - - -__. with - reasonable likelihood - will fail or will not earn a fair economic return on value." RECOMMENDATION This proposed demolition is part of a comprehensive plan, already substantially executed to rehabilitate the entire Central High School complex for multi - family residential use. The approved by the Indiana SHPO and the Preservation investment tax credits. The Park Service has assured our office that house is within the guidelines laid of Standards for Historic Preservation. plans for this project have been National Park Service for Historic SHPO acting as agent for the National the proposed demolition of the boiler in the Secretary of the Interiors The removal of this secondary structure is necessary for the general site page 1.