Standards and Guidelines 2023-0607

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 30 Residential Standards: Windows • The use of aluminum clad wood systems or composite (non-vinyl) windows on primary elevations may be permissible if the new windows closely match the original . • New sash utilizing applied grids on the exterior and interior to simulate original divided lite windows should also have a black internal divider matching the grids, or true divided lites are preferred . Restore windows where the original windows have previously been replaced • Where original or early windows have previously been replaced, new windows should be based on surviving windows still extant on the building, photos of the building with the original windows, or similar windows found on buildings of the same period and/or in the district . • New windows should match windows of a similar aged building in size, operation, glass to frame proportion and frame to sash proportion/opening . • Aluminum clad wood windows systems or composite (non-vinyl) in colors approved by the Commission are allowable if they are following other aspects of the Standards . Add a new window and opening to accommodate a use inside the building • New windows openings should only be added to side and rear facades . • New openings and windows should match those that are on other facades . • Where a smaller opening is proposed, it should be in proportions like the existing window . • Kitchens and bathrooms should be located where their windows would be on the side or rear elevations of a house to avoid a smaller window on the front façade . • Where bathrooms and kitchens may necessitate adding a window, the new window should match those that are on other façades . Fill in or obscure an existing original window • Original window openings should remain in place . • A window sash not needed due to interior use conflicts should be fixed in place with glass blacked out leaving the exterior of the window exposed and covering over on the interior is preferred . • If an opening is approved for in-fill, the exterior wood siding should be installed with staggered joints to blend the filled opening in with the surrounding siding. Brick infill should be toothed in to match the adjacent brick installation pattern . See also Walls . • Kitchens and bathrooms should be located where their windows would be on the non-public side or rear elevations of a house. Where bathrooms and kitchens may necessitate covering over a portion of a window’s original size, the original window should remain in place with the lower portion blacked out on the glass and covered over on the interior while the exterior remains exposed . • Windows shall not be resized to accommodate interior dropped ceilings . Where interior ceilings are being dropped, the ceilings should be bulk-headed or held back from the window to avoid shortening the window or visually obscuring its overall opening. Administratively Approvable Replacement of previously replaced windows with new windows that match the original period of the buildingand are compatible with the original opening size. Administratively Approvable Adding a new opening to the rear or non-public view side that follows the Standards. Administratively Approvable Blacking out an existing window, adding a new opening to the rear or non-public view side.