July 1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CERTIFICATE -OF APPROPRIATENESS STAFF REPORT APPLICATION -- 1998-0742 PROPERTY -934 Riverside Drive South Bend, IN OWNER -- Michael & Darcia O'Blenis DESIGNATION -- LHD-RD.- RATING -- Contributing C/10 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE./HISTORIC CONTEXT Jenny L. Sharples, widow of'Dennis Sharples, -purchased lot 16 of Andersons Subdivision, from Joseph L. Harter in March of 1905 for $1,000.00. She built this house a few months later with the intention of using it as a rental'. She .rented the house.to James Miller, a -painter for I.W. Lower, from 1905 to 1910. AFter Mr. Miller moved out Mrs. Sharples rented the.house to various -people until her death in 1947. In July of 1947 -Bessie M. Rhinehart, executor of -Mrs. Sharple.'s estate, ..sold the house to .Lloyd C. Beatty. Mr. Beatty was the general supervisor at the Studebaker Corporation and the first owner to reside in the house. He lived there until 1951 when it was sold to Marjorie and Robert Woodward'and Earl and Bertha Hooten,. Mrs. Hooten was MarjorieWoodwards mother, they lived-in the house for a year, selling.it to.Mrs. Hootens son, Robert H.. Freshley-in 1952. Mr. Freshley was the.president of Basic Machine Products Inc:, he resided in.the house with his wife,,Dorothy, until 1958 when he sold it to Carleton,H. Rhinehart. Mr. Rhinehart was a driver for Dallas & Mavis, he lived there with his wife., Nellie, until 1979. The house stood vacant.from 1980 to 1989 when it was sold to the current owners, Michael and- Darcia O'Blenis. , PROPOSED CHANGE Applicant proposes to terrace the first level of. -the river bank. The terrace would include wood steps, new plantings and pruning of the esisting.trees to promote growth. STANDARDS The Preservation Guidelines for.Riverside Drive Historic District: b)....The Guidelines for -the Riverside Drive District follow the Rehabilitation Model.... I.A.•l.' Required New plant materials....shall•be compatible with the character of the neighborhood in size, scale, material and color. The river front neighborhood character of the district shall be retained. I.A.2. Recommended If erosion control efforts become necessary to preserve the riverbank, they' should involve processes and materials consistent with the natural beauty -of the banks. Large, deep-rooted trees and shrubs as well as fast spreading . ground cover should be used whenplanting for erosion control. As much natural vegetation as possible should be preserved: I.A.3. Prohibited In erosion control, materials shall not be -utilized in an unsightly manner. Digging into or otherwise introducing or accelerating the deterioration or erosion of the riverbank is prohibited. The development of public boat docks,