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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: October 15, 2009 Application Number: 2009-1015 Property Location: 831 Park Avenue Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: T-plan/1885/Architect unknown _ Property Owner: Karen Gindele Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: The home at. 831 Park Avenue is a two storey structure with an irregular plan set upon a brick foundation. The exterior walls are wood clapboard with corner beads. Roof is a hipped gable with asphalt shingle, molded wood fascia and a plain frieze board. The porch features a spindled .frieze. Bay window on South side has mini -mansard roof and bracketed cave. Windows are 1/1 wood double hung with label head. ALTERATIONS: Mini -mansard porch roof has been replaced with a hip roof. In-kind replacement of traditional wooden storm door-CofA 2008-0919. Foundation and basement repair-CofA 2007-1127. Replacement of corroded tin roof with new copper roof on bav window-CofA 2006-0308. Removal of current replacement concrete steps and wrouiit iron hand rails and restored the original front porch floor, wooden steps and handrails; Access steps to pre -district door added to rcar-CofA 2005-0825. APPLICATION ITEMS: (Summary -see attached letter) Replace two basement windows with glass block for security and water tightness. Existing windows are very close to the ground in the alley and house itself is close to the alley. Most problematic window has a hole in it and the metal frame has rusted. Regular flooding in the alley would cause a new" wood sash window to rot quickly and a single pane could be broken easily, allowing a person to fit through it so a bar would have to be installed across it. Regarding the idea of a window well -too close to the alley and would .risk becoming damaged, especially in the winter when cars slide around. The second window is not as deteriorated but it would probably be good if it resembled the other window. Dryer vent is currently installed in place of one of the three panes. Homeowner states that she has observed other basement windows in the neighborhood and the addition of plastic or glass plates over existing; single pane windows, in her opinion, look worse than the glass block. Honieoti mer will try to find small square glass blocks to use .as these seem historically earlier and less obtrusive. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The homeowner has engaged Hcrshberger Masonry to replace the two single pane basement windows with new glass block windows. The windows proximity to the alley raises concerns of damage due to vehicle traffic, rocks through the windows, water flooding, and people breaking in. Homeowner advises that she will try to find small, square blocks as she believes they will be more sympathetic to the historic nature of the house.