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b. siding materials—the Commission discourages the covering or alteration of original materials with additional siding.
<br />Structures already sided with incompatible materials should be returned to a siding similar to the original when
<br />renovation is considered. •
<br />D. Demolition
<br />Historic landmarks shall not be demolished. When a landmark poses a threat to the public safety, and demolition is the only alternative,
<br />documentation by way of photographs, measured drawings, or other descriptive methods should be made of both the exterior and interior of
<br />the landmark. The person or agency responsible for demolition of the landmark shall be responsible for this documentation.
<br />E. Moving
<br />The moving of landmarks is discouraged, however, moving is preferred to demolition. When moving is necessary, the owner of the
<br />landmark must apply to the Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness.
<br />F. Signs
<br />No neon or flashing signs will be permitted unless they are original to the structure. Billboards and super -graphics will also be disallowed.
<br />Only one appropriate identifying sign will be permitted per business.
<br />G. Building Site and Landscaping
<br />1. Required
<br />Major landscaping items, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect the
<br />property's history and development shall be retained. Dominant land contours shall be retained. Structures such as:
<br />gazebos, patio decks, fixed barbecue pits, swimming pools, tennis courts, green houses, new walls, fountains, fixed garden
<br />furniture, trellises, and other similar structures shall be compatible to the historic character of the site and neighborhood
<br />and inconspicuous when viewed from a public way.
<br />2. Recommended
<br />New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs,
<br />drawings, and newspapers. Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building that are causing deterioration to the
<br />buildings historic fabric should be removed. However, trees and plant materials that must be removed should be immediately
<br />replaced by suitable flora. Front yard areas should not be fenced except in cases where historic documentation would
<br />indicate such fencing appropriate. Fencing should be in character with the buildings style, materials, and scale.
<br />3. Prohibited
<br />No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing major landscaping items, trees, fencing, walkways,
<br />outbuildings, and other elements before evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. Front yard
<br />areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. The installation of unsightly devices such as TV
<br />reception dishes and solar collectors shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from public thoroughfares.
<br />STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, CHAPIN PARK:
<br />I. THE ENVIRONMENT
<br />A. The District Environment
<br />The Chapin Park Local Historic District is a particularly fine residential area located close to downtown South Bend, the St. Joseph River,
<br />Memorial Hospital and Leeper Park. This section is meant to protect and guide appropriate maintenance of the common areas of the district
<br />(i.e. visual landscape and streetscapes).
<br />Required
<br />Brick streets contribute greatly to the character of the neighborhood. These streets have always been essentially passenger car thoroughfares.
<br />The appointments of the streets (i.e. lighting, curbs, horse hitches and monuments) should contribute as much as possible to their
<br />architectural, historic and residential character.
<br />Retention and maintenance of existing brick streets in the district is required. Repair work to fill voids and gaps must utilize brick paver
<br />materials and acceptable installation methods whenever applicable. When utility work dictates the removal of street sections (pavers), the
<br />original materials will be reinstalled. Brick streets shall be patched with brick pavers. Concrete, asphalt, fillers and similar materials shall
<br />not be used.
<br />All original streetlights shall be maintained, especially the George Cutter "Park View" streetlights designed by Cutter Company for this
<br />neighborhood. Present efforts by the Neighborhood Association and the Historic Preservation Commission to restore "Park View"
<br />streetlights to the district shall continue. Any change in lighting must receive approval of the Historic Preservation Commission.
<br />New or different fencing requires a C of A and shall reflect the style and character of the individual property and the surrounding
<br />environment and properties.
<br />Recommended
<br />The current or historic character of lawns should be preserved. Front yard areas, common lawns and tree lawns should remain open. New or
<br />replacement trees should be compatible in variety with those presently growing. Vacant lots should be kept landscaped appropriately while
<br />vacant, and may be used for recreational or residential development. When replacement of utility poles or power supply lines is necessary,
<br />consideration should be given to underground conduits or utility poles erected along rear property lines.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Existing relationships of building and their environments shall not be destroyed by widening existing streets, applying asphalt or other •
<br />bituminous coverings or by introducing new streets or parking lots. Signs, streetlights, benches, new plant materials, fencing, walkways
<br />and paving materials which are out of scale or inappropriate to the neighborhood may not be used. The erection of high walls or
<br />barriers, which would alter the relationship of the houses, shall be prohibited. Utility poles with high intensity overhead lights shall not
<br />be used on main thoroughfares.
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