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APPLICATION ITEMS:
<br />1. Replace front door (boarded up when purchased) with Larson vinyl clad primary door and
<br />storm door;
<br />2. Replace side door, repair side entrance;
<br />3. Repair roof overhang and soffit (Including carved brackets, cornice and cove molding);
<br />4. Install storm windows;
<br />5. Repair or replace porch planking;
<br />6. Replace windowsills;
<br />7. Repair foundation sill plate.
<br />8. Gutters & downspouts?
<br />RECOMMENDATION
<br />Clearly the new owner of this severely distressed house has some difficult and immediate problems
<br />to address in order to render it reasonably secure against the impending winter weather. The painting that
<br />has taken place is a good first measure.
<br />Because of the status of this house, and its location in the Chapin Park National Registry Historic
<br />District, the owner is eligible for federal and state tax credits for his repair and restoration work,
<br />PROVIDED that the work is performed according to the standards set by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior,
<br />which, in this case, roughly parallel HPC Standards.
<br />The difficulty is that much of the work proposed by Mr. MacDonald'would involve removal of
<br />historic material, and replacement with bland modern stuff of no particular style or character —vis., the
<br />Larson doors on the front of the house, the white -painted particle board over the front transom window, and
<br />the 1"x 5" board replacing the cove molding and cornice boards in front.
<br />Staff recommends that the Commission approve the following:
<br />1. Immediate in-kind repair of the roof, gutters, and downspouts
<br />2. Immediate in-kind repair of the porch deck boards, if and as required,
<br />3. Replacement of missing window sills with identical wood window sills, fitted by a
<br />competent carpenter.
<br />4. Repair with Abatron or another wood filler, or, if necessary, replacement in-kind of any
<br />other rotted or missing exterior wood work, including the side entrance and the soffit.
<br />Staff recommends that the Commission allow the replacement doors already installed in place
<br />of the original door or doors that were apparently stolen to remain ONLY until more appropriate
<br />doors may be found. The trim removed from around the front door should be replaced, NOT with the
<br />modern narrow little frame that came with the Larson door, but with a broad flat wooden frame replicating
<br />the original. If it was the present owner who removed the original doorframe, then he should re -install it.
<br />Because of the immense public investment (including grants from the City of South bend,
<br />Memorial Hospital, and South Hold Restorations) previously made to this house, staff recommends that
<br />no replacement or removal of original features be permitted, and that the portions of this application
<br />seeking such should be denied. Under the preservation standards applicable to local landmarks, the
<br />removal or alteration of character defining features is prohibited. In this case, that certainly applies to
<br />doors, windows, entries, roof brackets, and the cornice.
<br />Staff further recommends that oversight of the matters or repair to the roof, gutters, downspouts,
<br />soffit, cornice, and brackets, and of the doorways, entrances, and storm windows, window sills, and
<br />foundation sill plate, be placed jointly with the Facade Easement Committee, in consultation with the
<br />Architectural Historian. Further, staff is informed that Leslie Choitz and Ron Radecki may have more
<br />detailed information and material regarding this house in their personal Southold files. Staff is requesting
<br />their assistance.
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