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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: 2001-1205 Property Location: 900 Block of Riverside Drive South Bend, IN 46601 Property Owners: City of South Bend Landmark or District Designation: Local Historic District — Riverside Drive National Registry of Historic Districts — Chapin Park Rating: Outstanding -13 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT The location of the broken streetlight is directly in front of the home where George Cutter of the Cutter Light Company used to live. The broken light was one of the original "Parkview" lights, which the Cutter Company designed specifically with this neighborhood in mind, though the lights were then marketed generally. During its years of operation, the Cutter light company was an important part of the South Bend community and economy. The company's designs, innovative for their time, still typify what most people think of as decorative or pedestrian -friendly lights BACKGROUND: Almost a year ago, an unidentified car struck the historic cast iron "Parkview" streetlight outside the George Cutter house at 916 Riverside Drive. The pole shattered about five feet up. The Sibley Foundry has an exemplar of the original Parkview pole, and the City Public Works Department can, additionally, make the remaining piece of this pole available to any appropriate foundry or artisan. One or more exact replicas can be cast, but would cost an estimated $1,500 to $20,000 per pole, depending upon the number made and methods used. Similar, but not identical, cast iron or cast aluminum replacements might be somewhat less expensive. The neighborhood association has done some independent research regarding duplicate or replica poles, and began fundraising for purchase of a pair of cast iron Parkview Poles from Sibley Foundry. I believe they are not presently in a position to purchase at full cost, but might be able to make a contribution to maintain George Cutter's original design in front of his historic house. Octagonal concrete poles of the same era, but a totally different style are readily available in the Public Works Department inventory. Other lights on Riverside Drive and in the Chapin Park/Park Avenue neighborhood have octagonal concrete poles. The Public Works Department seeks permission to use one of these concrete poles. I understand that that might be acceptable to some of the neighborhood. RECOMMENDATION: The city seeks permission to substitute a different type of concrete pole commonly in use at the same period as the original cast iron pole, and to use a luminaire identical to the one destroyed. Staff recommends approval as to the luminaire, but denial of the Application as to the pole, pending further efforts to obtain a pole that replicates the original. Recently, wind damage necessitated the replacement of another luminaire on a streetlight at the corner of Park Avenue and Riverside Drive. The Public Works Department accidentally installed a slightly different luninaire from the one previously existing. ,They propose to re -install a luminaire identical to the previously existing one at the corner of Par and Riverside, at the same time as they install a new streetlight in front of 916 Riverside Drive. Staff recommends approva�o�t �ZZcv _treques .We ��