Laserfiche WebLink
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY <br />Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov <br />STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: December 10, 2024 <br />Application Number: 2024-1115 <br />Property Location: 507 River Avenue <br />Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: <br />Prairie / American Foursquare / 1920 / Whitcomb & Keller <br />Property Owner: Angela Law <br />Landmark or District Designation: Edgewater Place LHD, <br />Ordinance #6846-80 <br />Rating: Contributing <br />DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: This is a 2 story, foursquare home. The hipped roof has wide over- <br />hanging eaves and is of asphalt shingles. The walls are stucco, and the full open porch has stucco piers and concrete <br />steps. Windows are paired, double-hung 12/1 and 8/1 on the front facade. The front door features twelve lites and <br />a storm door. There is a detached, one-car garage with a hipped roof and wood panel overhead door at the back of <br />the lot. <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested retroactive approval to: <br />1) Install a WamBam ‘no dig’ fence along the northwest side of the property and leading up to the house on the east <br />and west sides. Fence is 4’ tall. (Work already completed). <br />STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: <br />Fencing and Retaining Walls: Pages 12-13. <br />SITE VISIT REPORT: Historic Preservation Administrator Ross Van Overberghe and Historic Preservation <br />Specialist Kate Himick were alerted to the construction of a fence without a COA or building permit on November <br />11, 2024. Specialist Kate Himick inspected and documented the fence from River Avenue the same day. <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATION: As stated in the Standards and Guidelines which guide the decisions of Staff <br />and Commissioners, vinyl is an inappropriate material for a new fence erected in a historic district. The Standards <br />and Guidelines’ general recommendation is that new fences should be constructed of wood, though final recom- <br />mendations may also take into consideration the makeup of fences in the district as a whole. Edgewater Place does <br />not heavily feature vinyl fencing, and front and side yard fences in the district are largely wood. Vinyl is not a rec- <br />ommended material for this instance. Based on the information provided prior to this public hearing, Staff makes <br />an UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. <br />Prepared by <br />Kate Himick, Historic Preservation Specialist