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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT, • APPLICATION -- 1996-0809 PROPERTY -- 830 North Michigan Street South Bend, IN OWNER -- City of South Bend (Water Works) DESIGNATION -- Local Landmark RATING -- 0/13 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT The North Pumping Station was constructed in 1912 to replace a previous facility of similar function which had become obsolete and was at the time reviled as being unfashionable in style. The new building was designed in the Classical Revival style by Freyermuth and Maurer, a well known local architectural firm. The site planning for the Park had been undertaken by George'Kessler, a nationally recognized landscape architect from St Louis, in 1911. PROPOSED CHANGE The Department of Public Works seeks to install landscaping at the front lawn of the Pumping Station along Michigan Street per the plan and specifications submitted. • STANDARDS The Landmark Standards state: VII. Building Site and Landscaping (2) Recommended New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the.past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers..:. RECOMMENDATION Staff has accepted this application for this agenda after the normal closing of the application period because it is from another city agency and in the interest of accomplishing the work before the dedication ceremony of the Capitol Flag in September. There is unusually good documentation of the historical character of the landscaping in the park due to the existence of city annual reports and documentation by Works Progress Administration Workers during the Great Depression. As of this report, Staff has had insufficient capability to work with the landscape designer and contractor to reconcile their early proposal with the evidence of the historical record. In the interest of completing the project, Staff recommends that the application be referred to committee for approval. DBD 8/11/96 0