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CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT, APPLICATION -- 1996-0909 PROPERTY -- 924 West Indiana (Oliver School) South Bend OWNER -- Michiana Academy for visual & Performing Arts • DESIGNATION -- LL STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT The Oliver School was originally constructed at this site in 1901. The structure as it now appears was constructed to absorb the original building in 1922. Local architects Austin and Shambleau designed this building in the Collegiate Gothic style common for educational institutions during this period. The general Contractor for the project was H.G. Christman. W.W. Sibley and the Electrical Service Company installed the systems. Originally constructed as a K-8 school, it eventually served as a Junior -High. The school was considered outstanding as a progressive school in its early days being very focused on hygiene and vocational skills. Four academic rooms were maintained through the winter with open windows to provide what was thought to be healthful fresh -air. The school has been vacant since closing in 1981. PROPOSED CHANGE The Owners propose the following alterations.: 1) Install 1/2" plywood cut to fit frame openings at basement and first floor windows. Panels are to be illustrated with silhouette figures in dark brown on beige. 2) Erect a 4'X8' identification sign in the yard at the northwest corner of the property. 3) Attach "state statute" no trespassing signs at two locations on the building/ STANDARDS Group B Standards. A. Maintenance - The maintenance of any historical structure or site shall in no way involve any direct physical change except for general cleaning and upkeep of the Landmark. The commission shall encourage the proper maintenance of all structures and sites. F. Signs - No neon or flashing signs shall be permitted unless they are original to the structure. Billboards and supergraphics will also be disallowed. Only one appropriate identifying sign shall be permitted per business. RECOMMENDATION The commencement of proper mothballing is a sorely needed step toward rehabilitation of this structure. As stated in the standards such activities should be executed in a manner which requires neither damage nor removal of building features. So long as the recommendations of the National Park Service Preservation Brief provided to the applicant by the commission are followed, Staff recommends approval of the installation of Plywood over the existing windows. The standards would indicate that a single identification sign is allowed for MAVPA. Staff recommends approval so long as the location of the sign otherwise meets city sign requirements. Staff believed that,this sign should be regarded as a temporary "project sign" for such purposes. The no trespassing signs are necessary and of minimal impact. Staff recommends approval of these as well DBD 9/11/96