May 2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

April 13, 2015 This morning at 10 am I visited the local landmark located at 60717 Locust Rd. met with the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Krakowski and their contractor Bill Carson of WH Carson and Associates. I was at the property last week but was unable to get inside to inspect the condition of the third floor windows. The two windows located at the front of the house at the dormer were removed and pulled for me to look at. The sashes are prairie style and are truly beyond repair as the bottom rails and corners of the rails are simply rotten away and sponge. I entered the house and went to the third floor to the south elevation and the 3 double hung bank of windows. These windows are wood, but are not the prairie style that is present throughout the house and the third floor in particular. The framework was completely rotted out and deteriorated to the point that the sashes were able to be moved in and out of the frame with ease. The sashes themselves had deterioration along the bottom and corners. At any rate, the framework will need to be replaced especially the areas of the weight pockets between the sashes are completely rotted and pitted by water. I also wanted to see the area where the rear chimney had been located prior to its collapse. Photographs will show that the framework around the roof extrusion are charred and rotted out. The damage continues from third to second floor as the water ran down to the first floor. I found it hard to believe originally that the chimney collapsed but after seeing the damage on the framework it is plausible that it collapsed once the flashing and roofing material was removed. The contractor was able to salvage the bricks to be used on other repair areas around the house. The owners also asked about removing the handicap ramp and re -installing a stoop close to the original one that the remaining footprint suggests to allow more room for vehicles through the portico. The owners also inquired about replacing a non -original window located at the rear of the house with a larger window. The area where this is located was in fact part of the porch that was later enclosed and adapted into living space.