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STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Application Number: 2001-0626 <br />Property Location: 709 Arch Avenue <br />Property Owner: Sunrise Atlantic Corp. <br />Landmark or District Designation: LHD-EP <br />Rating: C/9 <br />STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT <br />This house was built by developers Whitcomb and Keller as a rental venture in <br />1920. They rented the house to various tenants until 1929 when it was sold to Elsie and <br />Curtis Woods. Mr. Woods was a branch manager for Mutual Plate Glass Insurance <br />Company. They resided at this address until 1946when it was sold to Charles Roth. Mr. <br />Roth was born in Poland in 1894 and came to South Bend in 1917. Charles owned and <br />operated Roth Grocery located on North Frances Street. Mr. & Mrs. Roth lived in this <br />house until 1970 when Mrs. Roth, now a widow, moved into a senior housing facility. <br />Her son, Morris, used the house as a rental until 1977 when it was sold to Eugene Kollar. <br />The house was sold several times after this, but was always used as a rental. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />The Preservation Guidelines for the Edgewater Place Local Historic District follow the <br />Rehabilitation Model. <br />The guidelines state that demolition can occur only when a building is a threat to <br />public safety, and there is no reasonable alternative. <br />The applicant is South Bend Code Enforcement, who is requesting permission to <br />demolish the house. The present owners have allowed serious deterioration, especially to <br />the roof and foundation, which, in turn has caused water damage and structural <br />instability. At a Code Enforcement Hearing held May 22, 2001, Hearing Officer Larry <br />Clifford ordered the house demolished. While the grounds for Mr. Clifford's decision are <br />clear, the Historic Preservation Commission Staff are concerned about the effects <br />demolition of this house will have upon the rest of the District because the lot at 709 <br />Arch Street is too small to accommodate a new house. Therefore, there is a real <br />possibility that if this house is demolished, the lot will stay vacant and unused in <br />