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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 5 March 2015 Application Number: 2015-0303 Property Location: 213 E South St Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: 1905/American Four Square Property Owner: Expedited Credit LLC Landmark or District Designation: Taylor's Field Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: This two storey plus attic Foursquare has an irregular plan and is situated on a sculpted concrete block foundation. The exterior is asphalt siding over wood clapboard with a projecting vestibule at rear side. The roof has asphalt shingles is hip with hip dormers, closed wood soffit overhangs. The full front porch has tapered box columns over rough sewn stone piers. The porch has a flat roof with wood ceiling and wooden balustrade; wood grates at base under porch floor. The windows are wood with 4/1, 1/1 double hung pattern and three nine pane casement windows in the dormers. ALTERATIONS: A four -foot high chain link fence and gate was added to surround the properly. APPLICATION ITEMS: Demolition of house. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The city intends to demolish the house. Over the course of the last three years, no less than 6 times break-ins have occurred and either new boarding has had to be installed or replaced. The porch is caving in and separating from the house; the south east corner has shifted off its footer. The roof has failed in at least two spots and the outside elements are entering attic from above as well as through the removed/broken windows. Animals are burrowing in the overhangs and have started pulling insulation though-as— evident by the photographs taken March 3, 2015. Several code hearings have taken place about this property with Code Enforcement making attempts to contact the owner without success. This property has been listed on the previous 5 tax sales without being sold due to the large bill connected to this property by way of delinquent back taxes from the current owner. Preservation Specialist Steve Szaday has entered the house several times and has reported squatters, garbage, drug paraphernalia, and even evidence of warming fires in pots and the fireplace. The house is located less than 10 feet away from the house directly west and less than 8 feet from a garage at the rear. A fire in the house would be very difficult to contain. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: V GENERAL: A. Buildings in the district should not be demolished except where a building poses a threat to the public safety, and demolition is the only alternative. Documentation of interior and exterior features of the original buildings, especially homes rated as historically significant, is encouraged. Measured drawings and photographs may be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission for safekeeping and future reference. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The staff recommends the approval of the demolition of this property. The house has been significantly damaged through neglect and has become a place used by vagrants. Staff recommends that the demolition contractor makes attempts to salvage the doors, fireplace surround, wood columns, stair case and railings. The house sits 24-30" above street level with a retaining wall in front and on the east side next to the alley. Due to the proximity of the house next door, we recommend that the demolition contractor be instructed to back full the space formerly occupied by the foundation to match the grade and plane of these existing retaining walls. If the walls are damaged during demolition, the demolition contractor will need to replace or repair those walls. We do not wish for the house directly west to experience a situation where the surviving house experiences damage as a result of 213 E South being removed and the fill not properly retained. Public Works and its engineer have been contacted regarding the retaining wall and stated that they would enforce the decision of HPC in regards to this matter provided it was clearly stated on the approved COA so that it could be copied to the permit for demolition. Steve Szaday-Preservation Specialist Catherine Hostetler -Director