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October 6, 2003 Karen R. Hammond -Nash Historic Preservation Commission 227W Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601-1830 RE: Proposed fence at 107 W. North Shore Drive, South Bend, Indiana Dear Karen, This letter is in response to the blind copy of your letter to Mr. Jerry Kline, dated September 20, which I received on September 23, 2003. 1 would have responded earlier but I was out of the city. I appreciate your consideration with this mailing, as it not only brought me up to date, but has informed me as to why the work on the construction of the fence was stopped. Mrs. Sheets was aware that she lived in a historic district, just as I'm sure the people who sold her the home were. She and I had also spoken of this several times. I cannot say why she obviously claims to be unaware that she needed a Certificate of Appropriateness, or a building permit. (I didn't even realize a building permit was needed for a fence.) I would like to relate the sequence of events, as I know them, prior to your becoming aware of the proposed fence and back yard renovation. For several months prior to the arrival of contractors, Mrs. Sheets had spoken of her desire to remove the parking pad and place a fence around her property. Specifically, the erection of an east/west cement block wall (along the alley) and the continuation of the existing north/south wood fence (between 103 and 107 W. North Shore). The wood fence which presently runs at the south end of the parking pad was to be moved to connect with the existing north/south wood fence and continue to the alley. It would then hook into the cement block wall. Mrs. Sheets asked me what I thought of this and I informed her that I could not stop her from erecting a fence, but I did mention to her that it would cause me to loose some afternoon sun. I never had any intention of objecting to her building a fence. At this point there was no mention of a cement block wall between the properties. Several weeks later she phoned and said that she was thinking of putting a door in the fence so that I would not feel closed out. That never crossed my mind. I informed her that since the fence was for security, I felt it better that she not put in a door. I could always walk around to the door located on the west side of her yard. In retrospect, I feel that at this time she must have changed her mind from continuing the wood fence to the construction of the cement block fence. On the morning the contractor arrived and began digging out the parking pad, I went out to speak with them. It was on this day that the contractor informed me of Mrs. Sheets' plan to build a cement block wall that would not only run along the alley, but also north/south and connect to the existing wood fence. I was in shock to say the least. I phoned her about this and she told me she had thought long and hard about the cement block fence and she seemed to dismiss that she ever told me about continuing the wood fence between the full length of the properties. W did not rest easy that night. I knew I could not stop her from putting up a fence but I felt the cement block construction would not only be aesthetically inappropriate and unsightly between the properties (half wood/half cement block) but could decrease the value of my property.