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STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: November 10, 2005 <br />Application Number: 2005-1031 <br />Property Location: 502 East LaSalle - Bergen Building <br />Property Owners: Paul J. Schmidt <br />Landmark or District Designation: East Race National Register District and Local Landmark <br />Rating: S/11 <br />STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT: <br />This 1882 Victorian Italianate was built by William N. Berganand was originally a saloon with a <br />residence above. It was purchased by the J.C. Lauber Co. in 1975 and converted for use as an office and <br />storage facility. <br />APPLICATION ITEM: The owner wishes to demolish the building. The demolition is necessary <br />because the building shares a common wall and some foundation and fagade with the JC Lauber Co. <br />h ni l iing. JC Lauber is a going concern and family business for over 125 years in this location. Proposed <br />dation work at JC Lauber will either cause the Bergen Building to collapse onto the street and <br />sidewalk or implode. <br />STANDARDS: Local Landmarks Group B Standards, Section D <br />Demolition: Historic landmarks shall not be demolished. When a landmark poses a threat to the public <br />safety, and demolition is the only alternative, documentation by way of photographs, measured drawings, <br />or other descriptive methods should be made of both the exterior and interior of the landmark. The person <br />or agency responsible for demolition of the landmark shall be responsible for this documentation. <br />RECOMMENDATION: The Bergen Building is brick with a rubble stone foundation with apparent <br />severe structural problems. The walls of this building are pulling way from the flooring on the three sides <br />that are not attached to the Lauber Building. Any work on the Lauber Building's Foundation will cause <br />this structure to collapse; if work is not done to the Lauber Building then both buildings are in danger of <br />collapse. <br />Staff is consulting with Bob Yapp of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and with the Landmarks <br />Committee of the Historic Preservation Commission for economic remedies to this situation but will <br />recommend for approval of COA if none are available. <br />1 <br />