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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A 'i CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 10-10-03 Application Number: 2003--1001--01 Property Location: 1636 Lincolnway West, South Bend, IN Property Owner: Ethel Anderson Landmark or District Designation: National Registry and Local Landmark (South Bend Brewing Association) Rating: S/12 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT The brick industrial building located at 1636 Lincolnway West sits on a triangular parcel adjacent to the New York Central railroad line and College Street. It was built in 1905 for the South Bend Brewing Association's brewing and the local distribution of beer. A group of Polish, German, and Hungarian tavern operators from the city's west side organized the association and raised funds through the sale of 10,000 shares of stock and the lease of taverns. These funds were most likely used to erect and run the brewery. It was well known for Tiger and Hoosier Beers. The brewery produced beer until Prohibition and the Volstead Act of 1919 forbid the production of alcoholic beverages. In order to stay in business, the Associationrevised its charter and began producing ice cream, candy, cereal beverages, malts, and soft drinks. In 1922, the group became the South Bend Beverage and Ice Association. After the repeal of Prohibition, the company again brewed and distributed beer in the Michiana area and experienced sustained success until the late .1940s. In November 1950, the brewery closed. An excise tax of $8 per barrel of beer was blamed for the demise of the Association. Since 1950, several businesses have used the building including: Polar Ice and Fuel, White -Way Glass Company, I. W. Lower Company, which specialized in paints, McDaniel's Harley-Davidson, Acme Design Service, Indiana Glass and Classic Boutique. The Gothic castle -inspired architecture of the building with a corbelled cornice beneath brick battlements and towers facing Lincolnway West externally illustrates the procedures employed to brew beer. The four to five - story front portion of the building reflects the need for gravity flow to facilitate the brewing process. The horizontal portion of the building and the smoke stack contained the power, heating and refrigeration equipment as well as the loading facilities. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Staff received an application from Ms. Anderson for a new parking lot, trees, and other landscape plantings. The owner also submitted a site drawing prepared by architect, Greg Kil. The Commission approved a similar version of this project in July 2000. This approved C of A included: a new parking lot, lights, curb cut, and drainage, saving any good trees, and the lowering of two second story window sills. The revised project includes two small drainage basins and three dry wells with increased capacity. The basins will be located near Lincolnway and the railroad tracks and the other at the south side of the property. Ms. Anderson plans to complete the paving of the lot in two stages. The first will extend from Lincolnway West to the rear edge of the building, or about 172' to 180' and will provide 43 parking spaces. Staff believes the pavement will extend about 62' from the eastern side of the building along Lincolnway West. The second phase of the project will provide 15 more spaces and it will be completed on a later date. Because this parking lot will have access from Lincolnway, the curb cut on College Street will not be needed at this time.