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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: November 8, 2007 Application Number: 2007-1023 Property Location: 817 Forest Avenue Property Owner: Theresa and Robert Sedlack Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park NR/LHD Rating: N STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT: This Stick/Vernacular style house was built in 1892 for Elizabeth Lemen on Lot 28 of Chapin Place that was purchased from Edward Chapin. The house was constructed for Elizabeth's son, Edward Lemen, a manufacturer of "blank books". Mary and Lafayette LeVan purchased the home in 1894 and resided there until 1900. Mr. LeVan was a superintendent for the Oliver Chilled Plow Works. APPLICATION ITEMS: To replace old, rotted wooden fence with black ornamental aluminum "Hamilton" fencing with Quad Finials between the house and the garage on the south along with the 50 feet of fencing on the north side of the house and 8 feet along the east side per site plan. To install a new fence of the same design along the rear of the property with gates for car and a walk gate to connect with neighbors' fencing of same design in COA #2007-1029. CHAPIN PARK STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: B.. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING & ACCESSORIES This section focuses on individual properties and amenities. Building sites tend to be irregularly shaped, of varying topography and with different setbacks with regard to plots. Alleys are generally behind houses. Landscape accessories like fences are unique to each structure. Chapin Place presents a unique situation within the district. Applications from properties that have property lines on Chapin Place will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Required Fencing, walkways, outbuildings, private yard lights, signs (i.e. house numbers) and benches (visible from the street) as well as trees located in a yard or tree lawn which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained. A tree located in such areas shall only be removed if the removal is required due to storm damage, disease, threatened damage to a structure or for such other reason acceptable to the Historic Preservation Commission. Storm damaged or diseased trees should then be replaced with an approved species at the same or approximate location wherever possible. Fencing visible from the street in front of the structure shall be open (meaning spaces between the pickets) and consistent with the historic character of a structure enclosed. Recommended New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers. New site work should also be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Front yard areas should remain open. (See above for information regarding fences.) Trees in close proximity to a building may cause structural damage. Owners are encouraged to remove these trees and replace (or replant) them at a more appropriate location as soon as planting season permits and upon approval of a C of A.