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STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br /> <br />Date: 9 February 2021 <br />Application Number: 2021-0127A <br />Property Location: 738 Leland Avenue <br />Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Gabled Ell / 1892 / “Turner House” <br />Property Owner: Catherine Osborne <br />Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park Local Historic #9574-05 <br />Rating: Non-Contributing <br /> <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: Two story frame Gabled-Ell house with irregular plan. Roof is <br />covered with asphalt shingles. Walls are covered in aluminum siding. Windows are 1/1 double hung with false <br />shutters. Heavily modified: front porch enclosed, multiple rear additions. A garage stands behind at the rear of <br />the property. <br /> <br />ALTERATIONS: Administrative Approval #2021-0127 allowed for the repair/replacement of the above ground <br />brick foundation, landscaping of the site and grounds (including removing multiple trees and a damaged fence), and <br />‘unveiling’ the house by removing the aluminum siding. The property has been extensively modified, with <br />enclosed porches and rear additions. <br /> <br />APPLICATION ITEMS: “(3) Remove upper story of back addition, remove fire escape.” <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: <br /> <br />i. Remove the second story of a rear addition, <br />ii. Remove a metal fire escape that connects to the second story. <br /> <br />This property was recently purchased by Ms. Osborne from the City of South Bend. The property has long been a <br />vacant and abandoned property in the neighborhood and is need of rehabilitation. Prior to abandonment, the <br />property was subdivided into multiple units. The new property owner is beginning a comprehensive rehabilitation <br />of the property and has expressed a desire to return the house to single family occupancy. <br /> <br />The house currently is a rated non-contributing within the Chapin Park National Register District. The property <br />owner is committed to attempt to rehabilitate the structure, with the hope that it will be re-surveyed and determined <br />to be a contributing resource within the neighborhood. To do this, original features of the house need to be <br />rehabilitated and rebuilt. Removing unsympathetic additions will help with the re-assessment. <br /> <br />STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Chapin Park <br />General Definitions <br />(A) PRESERVATION <br />Defined in these guidelines as the act or process of applying to maintain or restore the form, integrity and materials of a <br />building, structure or site in its existing or original form. It can include stabilization work, restoration or rehabilitati on work, <br />ongoing maintenance and/or prevention or demolition. <br /> <br />(B) PRESERVATION GUIDELINES <br />An outline of requirements and recommendations which are used as guides in the determination of appropriateness of <br />proposed work within a Historic District. <br /> <br />The Historic Preservation Commission has established three sets of guidelines – Restoration, Rehabilitation, and Conservation. <br />One of these is selected by each Local Historic District at the time of implementation. This selection is based on the quali ty <br />and integrity of the architecture and environment of the district, and upon the goals of the neighborhood organization. The <br />Chapin Park Local Historic District Steering Committee selected Rehabilitation Guidelines in 2001. <br /> <br />The preservation guidelines are defined as follows: