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 161 District Addendums: Local Landmarks The Historic Preservation Commission has established two levels of preservation standards—Group A and Group B . Group A standards are the more comprehensive of the two and require that the original character of the building be maintained or restored . Group B (your Standards) require that the building be maintained as is and, if possible, returned to the original . One of these levels will be selected at the time of designation. Both require a Certificate of Appropriateness before the construction, reconstruction, alteration, demolition, or moving of any landmark structure or site . The property owner is responsible for furnishing the Commission with a complete description of the proposed changes . This information may be plans, elevations, specifications, photographs, or other means to accurately describe the project. When an application is being reviewed, it will be the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the new work is compatible . DEFINITIONS Shall — Defined as an expression of something that is mandatory or must be done. Should— Defined as an expression of obligation, something that ought to be done but that is open to compromise. Required — Defined as work which shall be done in a restoration or rehabilitation project in order to restore or maintain the original or existing character of the structure or site . Recommended — Defined as work which should be done to help restore or maintain the original or existing character of the structure or site . Prohibited — Defined as work which shall not be permitted in a restoration or rehabilitation project because it may have a negative impact on the original or existing character of the structure or site . GROUP B STANDARDS The Commission has the authority to determine the architectural merits and the extent of any proposed treatment, renovation, or addition to a historic landmark. The commission will require drawings, plans, specifications, and/or samples where appropriate. A . Maintenance The maintenance of any historical structure or site shall in no way involve any direct physical change except for the general cleaning and upkeep of the landmark . The Commission shall encourage the proper maintenance of all structure or sites . B . Treatment Treatment shall be defined as any change of surface materials that will not alter the style or original form. Such improvements include re-roofing, glazing, or landscaping lawns and may involve a change that can potentially enhance or detract from the character of the landmark. A treatment change of any surface whether on the landmark or in its environment may require a Certificate of Appropriateness if it significantly alters the appearance of the landmark. Although these kinds of changes may not require a Building Permit, a Certificate of Appropriateness may be necessary. The commission should review the proposed treatment for character and style consistency with the original surfaces . C . Renovation and Additions Renovation is the modification of a structure, which does not alter the general massing while an addition, is a change in mass. A modification, which involves the removal of a part of the landmark, should be considered under demolition (see demolition). Additions to landmarks should not detract from the original form and unity of the landmark and should not cover singular examples of architectural detail . Additions to landmarks should be added in a manner that does not disrupt the visible unity of overall appearance of the site . The proportions, materials and ratios of the existing structures should be carried through in the additions . Care should be taken not to change or alter the following:DRAFT