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Mata: Phil Mata, representing Ultra-Tech, 310 E Ewing, South Bend, Indiana. <br />Klusczinski: Thank you very much, please continue you're entitled to a presentation. <br />Helmen: My wife and I, well fiance at the time bought this house about 2'/2 years ago. Since <br />then, we've gotten married and fixed up all that we wanted to on the inside, finished hard wood <br />floors and whatnot. Now that we're expecting a baby in August, my wife tells me that I'm <br />nesting. I have just recently landscaped the entire front yard with new sod and plants and so now <br />I'm just kind of focusing my energy on the outside. I want a product that was a little bit more <br />energy efficient and easier to maintain with the baby on the way and that's why I contacted Ultra <br />Tech. I thought that they had a great product and I want to maintain as much integrity of the <br />home as I can. I also want to note that my neighbor across the street had siding put in about 5 <br />months ago. <br />Hostetler: That's not part of the district. <br />Helmen: Oh ok. <br />Klusczinski: Which is relevant, but we understand. <br />Helmen: I just want to note that I take great pride in my home. Not to say that a lot of my <br />neighbors don't, a lot of them are rental properties and I'm sure that the managers have <br />something else that they'd rather do with them. I take pride in ownership of my home and I think <br />it would make me and my wife especially happy. Phil's here along with Stan, the gentleman that <br />might be installing it to answer any technical questions. <br />Klusczinski: Thank you, are there any questions for the petitioner? <br />Riley: Did you look into having it stripped and painted? <br />Helmen: No,' it's not something that I... I've heard horror stories about having to repaint and <br />whatnot with houses. My mother in law had to do it due to failed attempts to paint. I just wanted <br />to go with something that would be easy to maintain and insulated and whatnot. <br />Riley: But when you buy a historic house, you're taking possession of something and there are <br />standards... <br />Helmen: I don't think at the time when I bought the house that I understood the extent that I had <br />to go to get the proper approval and whatnot. I understand that. I guess I really hope I answered <br />your question, I'm not really too sure. <br />Klusczinski: Any other questions? Did you have an opportunity to review the guidelines for the <br />district prior to the consideration of vinyl? <br />Helmen: Yes, sir. Well, when I closed on the house the previous owners kind of handed me this <br />booklet and said `here, you know, congratulations, you're renting your water heater'. I didn't <br />realize what extent I had to go to until I had to actually do the siding.- <br />Klusczinski: Ok. If there are no additional questions, we'll move to Commission discussion. <br />Anyone have any thoughts or comments? <br />Chase: Do you have any idea of the last time that the house was painted? <br />Helmen: My neighbor tells me that it's had maybe, that it's maybe 15-20 years ago that it's been <br />painted. <br />Mata: I'd just like to say that the product that we're going to replace it with is pretty much a <br />complete replica of what's on there now. He really wanted to replace everything that's on there <br />even down to the mantels. It will keep the same characteristics. p`+� <br />Klusczinski: Any member of the public wishing to speak in support of the current pitjn? <br />Hearing none. Any member of the public wishing to speak in opposition to the current position? <br />Also hearing none, Chair closes public hearing. Any final thoughts? <br />Zeiger: I guess that I would like to see more investigation or options than coming straight in with <br />the vinyl. This is a very well preserved historic house, it's a classic bungalow, it is in good shape <br />you've been taking really good care of it. It is a nice house. Architecturally, it's a stunning little <br />bungalow, it does maintain it's character. I'd have a hard time approving vinyl and just kind of <br />wrapping this thing up in a little vinyl box. It's one of the gems in this district architecturally, <br />and I think to not even have the option before us to even look at paint I think makes it hard for me <br />to just say ok. I think that the fallacies and assumptions that paint doesn't last is borne out as a <br />fallacy by what you said ... that it's probably been 15 years since this house has been painted. I <br />would concur with that, I think that a good paint job on this house will last as well. The cedar <br />15 <br />