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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 4 June 2010 Application Number: 2010-0604A Property Location: 708 N. St. Joseph Street Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Queen Anne/1903 Property Owner: William & Catherine Hostetler Landmark or District Designation: River Bend Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: 2 storey square plan on raised concrete foundation. Fagade is restored clapboard. Steeply pitched hip roof with hipped dormer on North side and gabled dormer on front facade -all covered in asphalt shingles. There is a 1 storey porch with hipped roof, concrete steps and deck, and iron supports and railing. Windows are 1/1 double hung with aluminum storm windows. Front door is paneled with aluminum storm door. There is a center brick chimney. ALTERATIONS: 1977 one storey rear addition; 1983 patio and walls in rear enclosed with brick; 2006 complete re -roof; 2008-2010 non -original insul brick siding removed and clapboard restored and painted. APPLICATION ITEMS: 1. (Brick replacement) of cement 8"x16"xl" pavers with bricks on the path around the house from the back patio to front walk. 2. (Replacement) of cement walk from sidewalk to front steps with bricks. Reason: cement is broken -improve the look and safety of walks. 3. Remove two trees in front lawn. Reason: one tree is overhanging house and the roots are entering the sewer line. Replace with two smaller city approved trees in tree lawn. 4. Remove four trees along the alleyway. Reason: trees are dying and overhanging house and electrical wires. Replace with 4 evergreens. 5. Put up a 2' retaining wall along the alley 63' long to improve the look of the property. Made of cement retaining blocks. *1,2,5 to be done by homeowner. *3,4 to be done by a contractor. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Homeowner wishes to 1. Replace cement pavers with brick Paveloc-Antiqued Holland on path around house from back patio to front walk. 2. Replace cement walk from sidewalk to front steps with (same) brick. 3. Remove two trees in front lawn and replace with two smaller city approved trees in tree lawn. Replacement approval granted by City Forester. 4. Remove four trees along alley. City Forester concludes, "trees are planted in a very bad spot". 5. Erect a 2' retaining wall along alley using Unilock-Stack Stone. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: I. THE ENVIRONMENT A. IN THE DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT The district is characterized by its proximity to downtown South Bend and its location adjacent to Leeper Park and along the St. Joseph River. The district encompasses: two blocks of Riverside Drive beginning at Marion Street (from 503 Riverside Drive north) and ending at Bartlett Street; two lots on the north side of Navarre street just west of the alley behind Riverside Drive; the north side of Hammond Place; the east side of St. Joseph Street between Hammond Place and Bartlett Street; and the south side of Bartlett Street between St. Joseph and Riverside Drive. The District contains 45 residences and their adjacent outbuildings. Required Distinctive existing features such as parks, gardens, streetlights, fences, signs, walkways, streets, alleys and building setbacks shall be retained. New plant materials, fencing, walkways, streetlights, signs and benches shall be compatible with the character of the neighborhood in size, scale, material and color. Street lighting should be maintained at levels recommended by the Illumination Engineering Society. Sources and light posts should be uniform throughout the District. Lamp fixtures and supporting posts must be similar in proportion, scale and detail to existing historic lamps (see appendix). Streetlights should be placed so that adequate illumination is afforded all sections of the public sidewalks. Removal of shade trees over twelve inches (12") diameter, conifer trees over six inches (6") in diameter or other major plant elements shall be subject to approval by the Historic Preservation Commission. Any subsequent replacement trees of any size required by the Historic Preservation Commission shall be retained. The Riverfront character of the district shall be retained. Recommended Whenever possible, the original features should be restored. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to buildings or streets that are causing deterioration to those elements should be removed. Do not dump leaves and grass clippings on planted slopes as this practice will kill much of the low ground cover and leave soil 0