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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 28 August 2014 Application Number: 2014-0827 Property Location: 523 S. St. Joseph Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Free Classic/1905 - Property Owner: John Fyrquist Landmark or District Designation: Taylor's Field Rating: Notable DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: This two storey plus attic Queen Anne has an irregular plan and is situated on a rough stone foundation. The exterior walls are clad in asphalt shingle siding they have rounded corners and projecting bays. There is a hip roofed front porch over the entry that is supported by single Doric columns on rough cut stone bases supporting dentilled frieze, bracket supports under the gable with heavy spindle balustrade. There is wood lattice covering the porch base.. The windows are 1/1 double hung sashes with aluminum storms. There is a Palladian type window inset in the front gable and casements with arched panes in the side gables. There are two fixed windows with wood tracery above the porch on the second level. ALTERATIONS: The asphalt shingle siding is a replacement. The roof is not original to the house. The aluminum storm windows are later additions. APPLICATION ITEMS: 1) Building a shed, 2) Expanding the back yard fence using picket fence for part, 3) terrace garden in the front yard slope. See attached DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT:, The homeowner proposes to remove, re -use the current privacy fence and re -install the privacy fencing at the far west of the yard and along the alley. This will have a gate on the west side. The north and south sides of the rear yard will be enclosed with a 4 foot high wood French gothic picket fencing that will have 2 gates on the south side. In the enclosed rear yard there will be erected a standard barn style shed. The homeowners also propose to terrace the eroding slope in the front yard with stone work and plantings. Please refer to diagram and images provided. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Taylor's Field Local Historic District Guidebook B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING AND ACCESSORIES Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot with a small to medium lawn in front and little to no lawn at the rear of the property. Often the back yard is used as a parking lot for tenants. About half of the properties include a garage which is either located at the rear of the property and accessed from unpaved alleys running behind the property or located directly next to the structure and accessed by small drives. Nearly all of the garage structures are out of date, single -stall frame buildings. One large carriage house still stands in the district. Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges. Most houses conform to the uniform set -back within each block. Required Plants, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained. 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 be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Accessory structures such as decks, gazebos, fountains and/or small outbuildings should be appropriate to surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building and causing deterioration to the building's historic fabric should be removed and replaced by suitable flora as approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. Prohibited No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings or other site elements before evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. Front yard areas shall not be fenced or fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installation of unsightly devices such as television satellite dishes, solar panels and skylights shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval as the project conforms to the guidelines for Taylor's Field. C.D. Hostetler, Director