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 145 District Addendums: River Bend Local Historic District Individual properties in the district are characterized by a house located near the front of each lot, with a small lawn in front and a larger lawn to the rear of the property. Those properties facing the river on Riverside Drive generally have sloping front lawns and flat back yards . The majority of structures have been erected on a single lot . Many of the properties include a garage located at the rear of the property accessed from unpaved alleys running behind the property . Most properties have trees, shrubbery and/or hedges . All houses conform to the uniform set-back within each block. The district has a compact layout. Large homes are constructed on small lots while smaller homes, such as those on Hammond Place, are constructed on narrow, deep lots. Little of the backyard areas or rear first stories of these homes is visible from the thoroughfare . In recognition of this, greater latitude will be allowed in the application of the adopted standards in the rear of the properties, in order to accommodate the individual preferences of the property owners in the treatment of these backyard areas. No approval will be necessary for changes in lawn, shrubs, walkways or semi-permanent surface changes in the rear of houses. Staff approval would be required for semi-permanent structures such as gazebos, but not for play equipment such as swing sets, sandboxes, etc . New Construction New construction includes any new building or structure constructed within the boundaries of the historic district, or any new addition to an existing building . New construction should be designed considering the appearance of the other buildings in the neighborhood . Massing and Scale. The majority of structures in the district are two stories in height and are square, rectangular or irregular in plan . There are a few story-and-a-half residences. The prevalent façade proportions are between a 1:1 and a 1:2 height-to-width ratio. • The height of a new structure and its height to width proportions shall be consistent with adjacent buildings in the district . • The building height shall be no greater than that of the tallest existing structure and no less than that of the lowest existing structure in the same block . • Façade proportion shall be established by permitting no structure with a façade wider or narrower than those existing in the same block . • Additions to existing buildings shall be related in height and proportion to the existing structure . • Contemporary designs should be compatible in character and mood to the building or neighborhood . Site Projects Garages, Landscaping, Parking Areas, Decks, Driveways, Sidewalks, and Paths. Sheds and accessory structures (gazebos, decks, doghouses, playhouses, fountains and small reflecting pools, outdoor sculpture, chil-dren’s play equipment, etc .) shall be located at the rear of the property and as unobtrusively as possible while preserving historical rela-tionships between the buildings, landscape features, and open spaces . Proportions and materials shall conform to those required for new construction . Shed and accessory structure designs should be compatible in character and mood with the residence and neighborhood . The following is prohibited and generally not approved by the Commission: • Removing old plants, trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings and other site elements before evaluating their importance to the property’s history and development . • Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped . • Front yard areas shall not be fenced, or fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the property . • Telephone or utility poles with high intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the thoroughfare . • The installation of unsightly, large devices such as television satellite dishes shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare . Return to the Table of ContentsDRAFT