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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: November 23j2010 Application Number: 2010-1123 Property Location: 626 Portage Avenue Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: 1 part cominercia1f1927 Property Owner: Saint Germain Foundation, c/o Cynthia Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park Local and National Register District Rating: Non-Contribilting DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE.: Building is a one storey commercial with rectangular plan. Foundation is concrete, exterior walls are brick with vertical siding applied to front. Roof is flat with a stepped parapet in front. There is a projecting cornice that spans the front facadc. ALTERATIONS: Vertical vinyl siding applied to front, solid panel replacement door in front, front windows removed and/or covered over with siding. APPLICATION ITEMS: I -lave a sign put up on the building. See attachment for details. Replace back door and have a gate added to the chain link style* fence. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Tenant is proposing a sign for the building that will represent the business. Neighborhood is zoned mixed use. According to the Building Department guidelines, size cannot exceed 10% of the area of the facade, in this case 33 square feet. The proposed sign is 4' x 6', 24 square feet. Sign will be a digital print on hard vinyl. Sign will attach to structure with screws. South Bend Fire Department Notice of Violation and Order report requests that a new back door be installed because the current wood door is rotted. Staff does not have details at this time as a contractor has not been hired. In addition, the reports requests that a gate be added to back fence. Building owner suggests removing a portion of the gate rather than adding a gate. Project is pending a letter of support from the owner. CHAPIN PARK STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: 1. THE ENVIRONMENT B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING & ACCESSORIES 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. Prohibited The installation of unsightly large devices, such as television satellite dishes, skylights or solar panels, shall not be permitted in areas where they detract from the architecture of a building, are intrusive to the public view of the building or are highly visibly from a public street, or ruled inappropriate after Commission review.