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STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: April 5, 2007 <br />Application Number: 2007 -0405 <br />Property Location: 115 East South Street <br />Property Owner: Abandoned House <br />Landmark or District Designation: Taylor's Field LHD <br />Rating: Contributing <br />STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT: This 1910 Queen Anne was built for <br />Mr. Charles H. Layton on property that he purchased from Sarah Taylor. The house remained in the . <br />Layton family until 1923. It was owned by various homeowners until its purchase in 1998 by Diane and <br />Norman Northcutt. ' <br />APPLICATION ITEMS: The house is abandoned. The City of South Bend Code Enforcement proposes <br />to demolish all the structures, fill the lot and resurface with top soil and seed. <br />RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval. There was a major fire at this home in October, <br />2004. Staff and the Commission along with Code Enforcement have been attempting to work with the <br />property owners since November, 2004. Mr. Stan Molenda's opinion in 2004 was that it was a close call <br />between demolition and repair of the house. The HPC Preservation Specialists toured the house and <br />documented the damage in March, 2005. COA 2005 -0505 was issued for repairs to the house and a complete <br />tear off and re -roof after a review by the Standards and Maintenance Committee. The work was never <br />initiated and the house has remained open to the elements since its partial destruction by fire in 2004. The <br />house has not been occupied since October, 2004 and is considered abandoned; and is now considered to be <br />deteriorated beyond repair. <br />