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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 10-16-03 Application Number: 2003--0929--3 Property Location: 742 Sancome Avenue, South Bend, IN Property Owner: John Oxian Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark Rating: S/11 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEMISTORIC CONTEXT South Bend contractor, Jonathan Nelson built this American Foursquare with Queen Anne influences for Lawrence -and Minnie Zeitler in 1912. Several other members of the Zeitler family lived here as well — Albert, a draftsman, Blanche, a seamstress, Ethel, a clerk for Oliver Chilled Plow, and Zora, a clerk for the South Bend Watch Company. Lawrence worked for the Studebaker Corporation for several years. The Zeitler family lived in this house until 1979. As an example of the American Foursquare style, the front porch carries a prominent position in all views of the front of the home. The open front porch has three bays formed by Tuscan columns on pedestals, a hip roof, and balustrade. The porch offers -a welcoming transitional space between the interior of the house and the exterior space of the yard and front walk. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: John Oxian proposes to enclose his front porch in order to create a greenhouse space for his multitude of plants. John's application calls for enclosure on the short sides of the porch with boards covered with vinyl siding to coordinate with the first floor wood clapboard siding. The front of the porch would be enclosed in "a similar manner and openings will be present for a doorway and windows. RECOMMENDATION As proposed, staff feels that much of the home's style and distinction would be lost if the porch enclosure sought to cover the Tuscan columns, the pedestals, and the balustrade and created opaque walls on all sides of the porch. The use of siding on the sides of the porch would greatly change the present openness of the porch and decrease the ability of light to enter the porch. Staff has recommended additional windows or storms that could be replaced with screens in the summertime. With more "wall" area filled by windows and/or screens, the enclosure would seem more transparent and retain more of its original style, proportions, architectural prominence and its use as a transitional space. A sliding or casement glass door would also improve the transparency of the enclosure. Floor to ceiling windows and screens placed behind the balustrade and the columns would provide the optimum light and air condition for a greenhouse space and would retain the architectural details and design of the front porch. Staff recommends that the owner could place boards below and behind the balustrade if floor to ceiling windows and screens are not to be found, but would suggest that only windows and screens be used above the balustrade in order to maintain as much transparency of the open porch as possible. Staff recommends further discussion of this project with the Standards and Maintenance committee and would appreciate the input of our architectural historian.