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SOUTH BEND & SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 235-9798 MEMORANDUM July 2, 2004 TO: Commission Members Edgewater District Liaisons FROM: Karen R. Hammond -Nash, Director g`y ,J RE: Proposed Infill Construction On this months meeting agenda, is a visit from one of our local historic district residents who will probably be seeking a building code variance to allow him to build a new "infill" house on a vacant lot near his home. You will see in you Edgewater District Guideline Book that when Edgewater Place was designated a Local Historic District, there was a little wood frame, carpenter -built, 19th century Hall -and -Parlor, with a kitchen ell on the back, on this lot (the Molnar House, built 1892). It was demolished in April of 1995. Ron Farr has acquired the lot, and has proposed to build a house there, 30 feet wide by 50 feet long, and a garage 22 feet by 30 feet. This plan would cover more of the lot than is allowable under present city code, and would probably require the removal of the tree and shrubs previously retained Mr. Farr has not yet designed a proposed fagade material and design; he wanted to get'preliminary clearance for his proposed dimensions first. In principle, the restoration of a structure similar in dimension and design to the one existing at the time of district designation, with retention of what remains and can be salvaged of the mature landscaping, plus restoration of a street tree as recommended by the city forester, would be something the staff could recommend that the HPC support. The proposed dimensions do give staff some considerable concern. Staff has identified some housing designs of the period of historic significance for the Edgewater Place Local Historic District that would provide more interior space while covering less area, and leaving more green space and conforming more to code requirements, though ANY new structure there would probably require some variance. Staff can think of at least three ways in which Mr. Farr might get a historically correct home on this lot: he could identify an appropriate house from the area that the South Bend Airport Authority is acquiring, and have it moved. Indeed, in that instance there is a possibility that the airport authority might contribute the demolition cost that would be avoided, to towards the moving cost. Alternatively, there are architectural drawings and plans available for Sears & Roebuck houses, or for Radford Artistic Bungalows. Because no Certificate of Appropriateness is presented at this time, and because the opinion and judgment of the Building Department and Zoning Board are not yet known, no action is required from the HPC at this time, beyond a polite hearing of Mr. Farr's proposal.