4. 313 W Madison Street_COA 2024-0731 (PACKET)

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313-315 W Madison (recorded under both addresses) Aaron Bechtel <aj@bigrealtyservices.com> Fri 8/2/2024 4:50 PM To: Kate Himick <Khimick@southbendin.gov> Thank you for your help to finally get the issues with this house resolved. I am a local realtor, and I helped a client purchase this property and save it from demolition in 2016. It was my understanding then, that he completed a large addition to the back of the property changing the roof line and stripped the house down to the studs to prepare for a full renovation. He brought new power to the house and installed new meter box and breaker box, changed all of the windows, new roof, installed new siding, tuck pointed the brick work, and installed new rear doors. He was later diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and it brought the job to a halt. After a while of the property sitting empty, he decided that he could no longer complete the remodel. At that time I brought another investor to purchase the property in 2021 and he intended to complete the remodel. He used some of my contractor associates, started the electrical rough-in, HVAC, gas lines, and cleaned up the house to bring the house back to a single family residence. Some of his other contractors were not following through on the work so he asked me to help complete the project. I am the owner of A JB Holding LLC, and I then informed him that I am running my own businesses and would have limited time to deal with this property. After a little while he became eager to get his funds producing income, so I agreed to take it over. There was so much money tied up in the house there was no chance to make money without finishing the project. I ended up agreeing to buy the property over time and attempt to complete the job. It has been a very long project, and my first one to complete. With all of the changes in ownership and some impatience on the part of the financial partner, we did our best to get all of the necessary permits, and file appropriately. I was under the impression that the request for the double deck on the rear of the house had been properly filed by the first owner, since we had discussed the rear exits that he had installed. When the builder "Blair Mast Custom Builders" was hired for the completion of the rear deck, they thought that I had gotten the permit and I thought they had. It was an oversight, and we had many back and forth issues due to some of the permits being filed on the wrong address. The house sits on one lot addressed 313, but the 2 lots were combined after the house once at 315 was torn down. The parcels were combined years ago, but the recorded address is mixed up depending on what department it is searched for. We are nearly done, and the only permit still to be completed is the one regarding this back deck. We need permission for it before the city will approve the permit. This house was on the demo list, and has been through quite a journey over the last few years, but we are hoping to get this occupied by a new family that will enjoy the area as much as my family has. We have had multiple compliments from neighbors regarding the finish and appeal of the decks. We hope that you approve this addition that was an unfortunate oversight and is one of the best features of this beautiful home. We look forward to a new owner's enjoyment of this home in the near future. Thank you for your consideration. --