Standards and Guidelines 2023-0607

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 129 District Addendums: Edgewater Place Local Historic District Private Site Work & Buildings The district is characterized by its proximity to downtown South Bend and its intimate relationship with the St . Joseph River . Edgewater Drive follows the riverfront with a row of houses facing the river from across the street. Other structures in the district share the benefits of the river with the presence of the riverbank and a small park near the southwest corner of the District . The erection of high walls or barriers which would alter the relationship of the houses and the river is prohibited. In erosion control efforts to preserve the riverbank, poured concrete, concrete slabs, concrete building blocks or other unsightly material shall not be used . Front yards shall not be fenced, with the exception of Lincoln Way . See fencing standards . Edgewater Place Historic District features a range of mid-sized and small house types and styles. Types include American Foursquare, Bungalow, and variations of gabled designs. Styles include Queen Anne, Free Classic, and 20th century revivals including Colonial, Renaissance, and Tudor . Some neighborhood commercial buildings were also constructed in the district on Lincoln Way . New Construction New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers . New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance . Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the buildings that are causing deterioration to the building’s historic fabric should be removed . Massing and Scale • 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. New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers . New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance . Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the buildings that are causing deterioration to the building’s historic fabric should be removed . Accessory building designs should be compatible in character and mood to the residence and the 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, with the exception of properties along Lincoln Way, which may be fenced, but not with enclosed stockade-type fencing. • Telephone poles with high intensity overhead lights should not be used, with the exception of along Lincoln Way . Return to the Table of Contents