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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFIATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: Application Number: Property Location: Property Owner: Landmark Designation: Rating: April 15, 2003 2003-0507-b 928 Riverside Drive, South Bend, IN Erin & Steve Camilleri Riverside Drive Local Historic District, - Chapin Park National Historic Register Historic District C =-10; Contributing This is an American Foursquare House, designed and built in 1903 by architect William Walter Schneider. APPLICATION ITEMS: Replacement of the stockaid fence has already been staff approved, and can not possibly happen soon enough. That fence cut of lovely views of the river and the park, and removing it will enhance the historic character of the whole neighborhood, as well as this house. Regarding the wire fence, refer to the photographs that accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Stockram's application last month. The Camilleris and the Stockrams live next door to one another, and this is the same fence. It appears to be partly machine made, of course, but then hand assembled. Hand assembly of a wire fence would have been old fashioned in 1903, when the house was built. In general this Commission does not approve the removal of original landscaping elements. Author Frank J.- Scott, writing in The Art ofBeautifvinz Suburban Home Grounds. in 1870, recommended the use of ire fences where possible when a front or side yard fence was needed, for purposes of retaining as long a landscape vista and as open a view as possible. These are still desirable goals, especially in historic neighborhoods. Farm fences, or wire fences such as this, do leave a more open vista than any other fence. However, this particular fence was probably not intended to last a hundred years, and is seriously damaged in several places. Also, it is rusted. - _- - - — Staff would recommend that the Commission approved replacing the fence in this case. Staff would also recommend to the Camilleri's, however, that they seriously consider retaining part of it, if it can be incorporated into their landscape and garden plan.