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Introduction and property history since its purchase in 2015
<br />I, David Visser, along with my wife, Karen Visser, of Edwardsburg, Michigan and 27 year residents of
<br />the greater South Bend area purchased the home at 50106 Bittersweet Trail in Granger, Indiana in July
<br />2015. This was a purchase of love that is hard to describe in this objective document. We desired to
<br />create a home that we could share with people looking to enjoy a piece of history and flavor of country
<br />living in our community, and it has proven to be be quite attractive for exactly that. In doing so, we
<br />knew it would also create financial resources for healthy investment into the home and property. This
<br />home's financial backing would be sound, and its care would not be dependent upon the motivation or
<br />finances of an owner. We thought it ideal.
<br />In that purchasing process, we learned some of the history of the home and general principles of the
<br />benefits that historic registry affords regarding tax credits for approved improvements. Right or wrong,
<br />we were informed that the Historic governing organizations only had oversight of the main home and
<br />not the outbuildings, and that it was only the exterior of the main home that was of concern because
<br />visual exterior presentation was the main ordinance. We did not learn the names of the governing
<br />organizations at closing, nor from the previous owners, (nor, in all honesty, did we pursue that
<br />information, sadly). Now, even in our profession, Karen and I create and abide by standards above
<br />what are considered minimal governmental requirements, and have even created standards that don't
<br />exist in our field. We were confident that our mission of preservation and respectful improvement
<br />being so core in our beliefs, that it would naturally be in line with any agency that could have an
<br />opinion or authority. I say this with innocence and good intention, and not by excuse for not knowing
<br />what we now understand.
<br />With the limited awareness as known to us prior to the violation notice, we eagerly pursued the projects
<br />we saw that this property -in -need deserved. It was not performed in the spirit of deceit, but rather in
<br />genuine goodwill. We will outline these projects in the coming pages, for we now know that each as
<br />listed are items that should have gone, and now should go, through the approval process. We
<br />apprehensively, but with full honestly, disclose and share it all, with high hopes for understanding,
<br />leniency, and hopefully approval from you.
<br />Violation Notice
<br />At the end of January, my wife and I received the violation notice from the Building Department,
<br />bringing us awareness of violations, in part, to the standards of the Historic Preservation Commission
<br />that relate to our home. We immediately and without hesitation put a stop to any more work.
<br />We have made exhaustive efforts to communicate our cooperation in rectifying ALL issues that relate
<br />to this home, and our responsibility, by communicating with the Historic Preservation Commission,
<br />meeting with Elicia Feasel, communicating with the Building Department, neighbors of our property,
<br />and future guests of our home. We are certainly distressed and embarrassed over what we could have
<br />known, should have known and what could be the consequences borne by us, not only for actions done
<br />by us, but also those transferred actions by the previous owner(s) of our home. We have learned a
<br />tremendous amount which is certainly helpful, but also creates more anxiety over the work before you
<br />and us collectively, now.
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