2. Riverside Drive Embankment_COA 2022-0225A

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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: March 14, 2022 Application Number: 2022-0225A Property Location: Riverside Drive Embankment Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: N/A Property Owner: MULTIPLE Landmark or District Designation: Riverside Drive Local Historic District, #7469- 85 Rating: N/A DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: The Riverside Drive Local Historic district is characterized by its proximity to downtown South Bend and by its intimate relationship with the St. Joseph River. Parcels in the project’s immediate vicinity are owned by the property owners along the west side of Riverside Drive. ALTERATIONS: AA 2022-0225 allowed for the removal of trees in preparation of bank stabilization projects. APPLICATION ITEMS: “Please see attached letter.” “The City of South Bend is submitting two Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) forms for the Riverside Drive Bank Stabilization Project. The first COA is for initial tree removal of 8 trees from the bank before the Indiana Bat Roost Season beings. These initial trees have been identified as having bat habitat potential and will be removed before April 1, 2022 as required by the State of Indiana. The second COA is for the remainder of the bank stabilization work, which includes: additional tree clearing for access, Rock-Toe construction up to the ordinary high-water mark of the river, erosion control blanket installation, seeding, and shrubbery planting. The work will occur in late summer 2022.” DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: Stabilize the failing riverbank along Riverside Drive in the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Riverside Drive, including: • “Rock-toe” construction up to the ordinary high-water mark of the river, • “Erosion control blanket” installation, • Seeding and shrubbery planting. Erosion along the river embankment adjacent to Riverside Drive in this area has steadily increased, especially after the major flood events that our community experienced during the last four years. HPC staff documented the worsening condition in 2018. City of South Bend Engineering staff applied for financial assistance to remedy the failing river bank, resulting in the $800,000 project under review. The east side of Riverside Drive in this area is made up of individually owned parcels. The City has received approval from the property owners to access these parcels to execute this work. Approval and review from other city and regional entities has already been acquired. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: RIVERSIDE DRIVE I. THE ENVIRONMENT A. THE DISTRICT ENVIRONMENT The district is characterized by its proximity to downtown South Bend and by its intimate relationship with the St. Joseph River. The district encompasses the seven blocks of Riverside Drive which follow the river front from Lafayette Street to the east of Angela Boulevard to the west. For a portion of that route, there is a row of houses facing the river from across Riverside Drive, while in another portion, residences are situated on both sides of the street, with some properties abutting the river and others located across the drive. The district also includes homes located on Hudson and Golden Streets, between the drive and the alley defining the southern boundary of the district, as well as three separate park areas which lie adjacent to the river’s edge: a portion of Leeper Park to the East; all of Shetterly Park in the middle and a portion of Brownfield Part to the West. Required