HPC of South Bend and St. Joseph County - Standards Update Draft

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 120 General Information: Safety and Building Codes | Emergency Response Provisions All Landmarks and all contributing structures located in an historic district shall be preserved from decay and deterioration and shall be maintained in good repair and kept structurally sound . The owner or other person having charge or control of Landmarks and property in an historic district shall not allow or permit deterioration from defects or conditions which, in the judgment of the commission, produce a detrimental effect on the character of the district as a whole or the life and character of the Landmark, structure or property in question, including but not limited to: • Buildings in the district should not be demolished except where a building poses a threat to the public safety, and demolition is the only alternative. Documentation of interior and exterior features of the original buildings, especially homes rated as historically significant, is encouraged . Measured drawings and photographs may be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission for safekeeping and future reference . • A Certificate of Appropriateness is required before moving any building or structure. The moving of a building within, out of or into the district is discouraged; however, moving is preferred to demolition. Buildings incompatible with existing structures in the historic district shall be prohibited . • Any rehabilitation work shall not be such as to change a building to a style dated previous to its original style . • In planning rehabilitation projects, an architect or contractor experienced in preservation should be consulted . • There shall be a liaison committee consisting of property owners in the district . The committee’s responsibility will be to work with the residents of the district and the Historic Preservation Commission (See individual districts for details) . • All guidelines will be reviewed and updated, on the recommendation of the liaison committee, at least every five years. • In the case of structures located within the district which are designated individually as Landmarks, the most restrictive guidelines shall apply . • Existing easements and codicils in property owners’ abstracts shall remain in effect. Safety and Building Codes Required • Building code requirements shall be complied with in such a manner that the existing character of the building is preserved . Recommended • Local building code officials should be consulted to investigate alternative life safety measures that will preserve the architectural integrity of the structure . Variances for historic properties should be investigated . The following is prohibited and generally not approved by the Commission: • Construction of new stairways and elevators that would alter important architectural features and spaces is prohibited . • Fire prevention equipment should not damage the appearance or fabric of the building . Emergency Response Provisions In the event of any catastrophe causing serious structural damage, the following corrective actions are suggested: Contact the Historic Preservation Commission offices for advice and to see if a C of A is necessary. Repair work with the existing materials would not require a C of A. In-kind replacements of severely damaged material would be able to be approved by the Commission staff within a day. General Information DRAFT