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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 8 November 2017 Application Number: 2017-1101A Property Location: 805 Leland Avenue / 808 Ashland Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Queen Anne—Free Classic/ 1902 (1929 Remodel) / Wandell R McErlain (remodel?) Property Owner: Ingersol Financial LLC - Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park Local and National Historic District, Ordinance 99574-05 Rating: N/A DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: The 2 -story free classic irregular -frame house sits upon a concrete foundation. A garage space at the rear of the structure provided the foundation of an extensive later non- conforming addition. The house is encased in asbestos siding and has louvres and gable returns. The roof is hipped with cross gables and has a central chimney. The front of the house has a 1/3 -width shed with replacement baluster and support posts. The windows are 1/1 double hung with molded crowns and trim. Replacement storms encase the windows. ALTERATIONS: Asbestos. siding is not original and predates the district designation. Extensive modification of the existing garage space created additional living space prior to the establishment of the Historic District (ca. 1929). CoA 92011-0811 called for the replacement of the wood deck and railings of the front porch. CoA #2014- 0724A removed a storm damaged pine tree leaning over the house as well as overgrown bushes. APPLICATION ITEMS: "Demolition of house:' DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: Code Enforcement of the Cite of South Bend submits an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the existing structure. Property has appeared regularly at Code Enforcement hearings for the past two years during the tenure of multiple o%vners. Continuous enforcement and repeated fines have been imposed on the property owners of record. City has continued to maintain the property in the absence of an attentive property owner, including securing the building and the maintenance and care of the grounds. Continued neglect has degraded the structure to a deplorable state, and little activity by the property owner has been witnessed in multiple years. Owner of record ("Ingersol Financial, LLC" or "Ingersol Financial Midwest Land Trust") appears to have a ranging portfolio of properties in the Midwest. Although not indicative of their entire portfolio, a property in Muskegon, Michigan was declared `'substandard, dangerous and a public nuisance" on August 3, 2017; bids for demolition were requested by the cit; and the city subsequently awarded one on November 3rd, 2017 (see attached documents and news articles). PRESERVATION SPECIALIST REPORT: Ott November 6, 2017 at approximately 10 AM. I met with inspectors from South Bend Code Enforcement to walk through the property located at 805 Leland/806 Ashland. l am familiar with the property as I did a precious walk through in 2014. The property has had a number of onners by %Nay of tax salts and transfers. I have attended 6 different code hearing in regards to this property since 2014. This last owner had done a down to stud removal of Halls on the first floor. There have been numerous repairs on the rear portion of the structure and sone ceilings that were down in 2014 that are non" in place. I fowever, the ceiling on the south side of the structure on the second floor has indications of water damage and infiltration. The outside photos show an area where the roof meets the fascia and the roofing material is hangina. This is the same room that has the n iter damage inside. The rear addition uas actually an attached garage that hada second story added later on. As well as an additional story added to a lower level located at the northwest corner. Although the addition above the garage appear sound, the addition added later is " sponge%" to walk on. There was movement as I walked across the floor both from the floor and the Hall that separated the two additions. I walked through the basement and could see areas where the mortar has failed as well as some attempts to make repairs. Disintegrated mortar is in plies as a result of water infiltration. i saw from the outside symmetrical cracks on both sides of the cast wall about 12 inches off the corner. These cracks go front the siding well into the ground level. The foundation on the exterior is concrete but the interior Michigan basement is brick. Photographs will show daylight from the interior of the basement.