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Major landscaping items, trees, fencing, walkways, private yard lights, signs (house numbers) and benches which reflect
<br />the 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
<br />yard 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.
<br />Joseph River, Memorial Hospital and Leeper Park. This section is meant to protect and guide appropriate maintenance of the
<br />common areas of the district (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
<br />thoroughfares. The appointments of the streets (i.e. lighting, curbs, horse hitches and monuments) should contribute as much as
<br />possible to their 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
<br />brick paver materials and acceptable installation methods whenever applicable. When utility work dictates the removal of street
<br />sections (pavers), the original materials will be reinstalled. Brick streets shall be patched with brick pavers. Concrete, asphalt,
<br />fillers and similar materials shall not be used. •
<br />All original streetlights shall be maintained, especially the George Cutter "Park View" streetlights designed by Cutter Company
<br />for this neighborhood. Present efforts by the Neighborhood Association and the Historic Preservation Commission to restore
<br />"Park View" streetlights to the district shall continue. Any change in lighting must receive approval of the Historic Preservation
<br />Commission.
<br />New or different fencing requires a C of A and shall reflect the style and character of the individual property and the
<br />surrounding 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
<br />open. New or replacement trees should be compatible in variety with those presently growing. Vacant lots should be kept
<br />landscaped appropriately while vacant, and may be used for recreational or residential development. When replacement of utility
<br />poles or power supply lines is necessary, consideration should be given to underground conduits or utility poles erected along
<br />rear property lines.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Existing relationships of building and their environments shall not be destroyed by widening existing streets, applying asphalt or
<br />other bituminous coverings or by introducing new streets or parking lots. Signs, streetlights, benches, new plant materials,
<br />fencing, walkways and paving materials which are out of scale or inappropriate to the neighborhood may not be used.
<br />The erection of high walls or barriers, which would alter the relationship of the houses, shall be prohibited. Utility poles
<br />with high intensity overhead lights shall not be used on main thoroughfares.
<br />B. BUILDING SITE, LANDSCAPING & ACCESSORIES
<br />This section focuses on individual properties and amenities. Building sites tend to be irregularly shaped, of varying topography
<br />and with different setbacks with regard to plots. Alleys are generally behind houses. Landscape accessories like fences are
<br />unique to each structure. Chapin Place presents a unique situation within the district. Applications from properties that have
<br />property lines on Chapin Park will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
<br />Required
<br />Fencing, walkways, outbuildings, private yard lights, signs (i.e. house numbers) and benches (visible from the street) as
<br />well as trees located in a yard or tree lawn which reflect the property's history and development shall be retained. A tree
<br />located in such areas shall only be removed if the removal is required due to storm damage, disease, threatened damage to a
<br />structure or for such other reason acceptable to the Historic Preservation Commission. Storm damage or diseased trees should
<br />then be replaced with an approved species at the same or approximate location wherever possible. Fencing visible from the
<br />street in front of the structure shall be open (meaning spaces between the pickets) and consistent with the historic
<br />character of a structure enclosed.
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