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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFIATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Number: 2002-0607 Property Location: 1402) 1404, & 1406 Lincolnway East, South Bend Note: this is one building. Property Owner: Robert C. Schafer, Personal Representative of the Estate of Mabel F. Schafer Landmark or District Designation: Local Historic District — Lincolnway East Rating: Contributing - 9 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT The original front part of this house was a Queen Anne or Free Classic farmhouse, built in about 1882, and built according to some of the better building and design practices of the day, but not under the direction of an architect. Not too many years later, perhaps 1�90, according to indications in the City Directories, a duplex addition was added on to it. There were several other additional rooms patched on thereafter. The original porches are gone. The earliest clear record of ownership shows Eva & Carl Beal owning the house, and living in the 1404 portion in 1927. Mr Beal was manager of the Ludwig Auto Supply Company. In the 1930s, the Beals transferred co -ownership of the house to Alta & Oscar Ludwig. Mr. Ludwig was the owner of Ludwig Auto Supply. The Ludwigs rented out their portion of the house, and never lived there. In 1938, the Beals and Ludwigs sold the house to Tower Federal Savings & Loan Assoc., which owned it for six years, renting out apartments in it. Mr. Schaffer informs me that by 1944 the house was becoming run-down, and depressing neighboring property values, so his parents, who lived next door (and were incidentally the owners of a local dairy), purchased the house, had it covered with gray asphalt siding, and performed some other repairs, to keep its appearance up. They continued its use as an apartment house. At the time that this area became a historic district, his widowed mother was the sole owner. It was she who caused a large piece of plywood to be nailed over the upstairs hall/stair window, just after the decision was made to become a historic district, and that piece of plywood remains there to this day. Mabel Schafer died in 1983, and her son Nelson, who was first representing her estate, has also died. The surviving son, Robert, has now become personal representative in place of his deceased brother. He is actually living in one of the apartments in this house. RECOMMENDATION. A. Staff recommends approval of the leveling of the foundation, provided only that all aspects of the South Bend Building Code be followed.