November 2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 11/04/04 Application Number: 2004-1101 Property Location: 1025 Hudson Avenue Property Owner: Douglas Gibson Landmark or District Designation: Riverside Drive LHD Rating: Arts and Crafts Bungalow; restored 2003-2004 APPLICATION ITEMS: Landscape plan that includes: planting 1 River Birch, installing bluestone path in front yard, side yard, and tree lawn, brick border (2 bricks deep) around tree lawn, replace concrete front steps with brick faced steps, and new plantings (see list provided by the owner). Please note: Staff has approved the restoration of the grade of the lot. Previous owners had added topsoil to the - front yard, which covered the home's foundation and at least one board of the siding. To complete the tear -off of the aluminum and restoration of the wood siding, Mr. Gibson needed to remove a portion of the soil near the foundation. Now the yard has a large depression around the front of his home, which increases the likelihood of water infiltration. Staff also approved the transplanting of the existing crab apple trees, boxwood hedge, ferns, and hostas. PRESERVATION STANDARDS I. The Environment: New plant material, fencing, walkways, streetlights, signs, and benches shall be compatible with the character of the neighborhood in size, scale, material and color (24). ...major landscaping items, fencing, walkways and paving materials which are out of scale or inappropriate to the neighborhood may not be used (25). RECOMMENDATION The landscape plan submitted by Mr. Gibson provides a fine complement to the newly restored exterior of this arts and crafts bungalow, and its use of natural and authentic materials and colors for the exterior of the home. Mr. Gibson and his landscape architect have designed a garden landscape that blends elements of American arts and crafts gardens. It includes a natural and flowing plan reflective of a Japanese garden, which often influenced American arts and crafts gardens. The design also retains the layout of the lot, which is common to 201h century American neighborhoods and the Riverside Drive district. This layout includes the front walk and steps leading from the tree lawn to the front porch of the home. The design employs natural, earthy materials that add texture to the property — the bluestone walk, trees, and variety of shrubs, and brick, a material well connected to South Bend history and industry. Mr. Gibson has also chosen plantings with long histories in American gardens: wisteria, hydrangea, St. John's Wort, viburnum, euonymous, boxwood, cotoneaster, and others. Staff finds that the plan is appropriate to the scale of the lot. The individual elements of the design are also appropriately scaled to the neighborhoods and the surrounding houses. The landscaping style, reminiscent of American arts & crafts gardens with some oriental influence, is historically and stylistically..appropriate to -this bungalow. --Staff recommends approval of all parts of the landscape _plan noted in application 2004-1101.