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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: 2000-0601 Property Location: 701 Riverside Drive Property Owner: Julia DesLauriers Landmark or District Designation: LHD-RB Rating: C/9 Key Number: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT This house was constructed in 1895 by developers, Whitcomb and Hammond, as rental property. They sold the house to William Mack in 1907 for $3,800.00. Mr. Mack and his family owned the house for eight years, during which time they continued to use it as a rental. The Mack Family sold the house in 1915 to Edward Mechling, who sold the property three years later to Frank Camp. Mr. Camp rented the house out for two years, selling it to Albert Leopold in 1920. Mr. Leopold sold the house that same year to Burton Oliver. Mr. & Mrs. Oliver were the first owners to actually reside in this house. Mr. Oliver was the vice president and manager of Oakland Motor Sales Company and Mrs. Oliver was a teacher with the South Bend Public School Corporation. In 1944 the couple moved to Michigan so Mrs. Oliver could teach at Western Michigan University. When they left they rented the house to Irving Albert, a mail clerk. The Oliver's rented the house to Mr. Albert until 1952 when they finally sold the property to him. Mr. Albert resided at this address from three more years, selling the property to Barbara Sylvester in 1955. Mrs. Sylvester owned the house for 27 years, selling to her son, Mark in 1982. Mark Sylvester resided in this house intermittently throughout the next ten years. He eventually sold the building to Peter Schilling, who in turn sold it to the current owner, Julia DesLauriers in 1996. RECOMMENDATION The River Bend Local Historic District guidelines follow the rehabilitation model. The applicant is proposing to construct a 12x27, single story addition to the rear of the house. The proposed addition will encompass a portion of an existing rear porch by adjoining the roofs and abutting the walls. The new addition will have a hip roof with a single skylight located near the house. It will be cladded in vinyl, cedar, shake siding to match the existing siding on the house.