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Statement to the South Bend Historic Preservation Commission <br />523 S Saint Joseph Street, South Bend, Indiana <br />Dear Members of the South Bend Historic Preservation Commission, <br />I would like to submit the following information regarding our proposed siding project <br />at 523 S Saint Joseph Street. Our intent is to protect, preserve, and restore the <br />historic character of our home while addressing structural and weather-related <br />concerns in a responsible and respectful manner. <br />There will be no changes made to any of the existing windows or doors. All original <br />architectural features, including fascia and soffit, will remain in place and will only be <br />repainted or repaired where necessary. Some areas of the fascia and soffit require <br />replacement with new wood, as animals such as squirrels and birds have created <br />holes and gained access to the attic space. This has raised serious concerns about <br />potential hazards, especially since there have been two significant fires in nearby <br />houses... The only modification involves the exterior siding. The existing fiber cement <br />siding will be carefully removed and properly disposed of. After removal, the home will <br />be wrapped to protect against moisture, and new vinyl siding will be installed. The <br />chosen vinyl siding will closely replicate the profile, texture, and appearance of the <br />original wood siding that has been covered for many years. This method provides an <br />added preservation layer to the original material beneath while maintaining the home’s <br />hist... We have archival photographs showing our home in its earlier years—painted, <br />with its original windows intact, before conversion into a duplex. Many of those original <br />windows appear to have since been covered or removed during the installation of the <br />fiber cement siding. Our goal is to restore the home’s authentic appearance through <br />siding that mirrors the original in both design and proportion. <br />We have selected a carbon brown color for the vinyl siding; however, we are open to <br />working with the Commission to determine an appropriate color that aligns with the <br />home’s original palette, which appears to have been green. We are happy to <br />collaborate to ensure that the final color choice supports the historic integrity of the <br />neighborhood.