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April 11, 2016 <br />Area Plan Commission of St. Joseph County <br />1140 County -City Building <br />227 W. Jefferson Blvd. <br />South Bend, IN 46601 <br />Dear Commissioners, <br />"s INS <br />�mm- <br />THE HISTORY <br />MUSEUM <br />discover. experience. immerse. <br />I am writing today to express unequivocal support by The History Museum for the <br />petition by Indiana Landmarks to rezone the historic Kizer house at 803 W. Washington <br />from its current multi - family zoning to a mixed use zoning io allow its use for office, <br />meeting space and house. We favor this change as a positive development for the West <br />Washington neighborhood. This wonderful house has had a checkered past and we <br />welcome Indiana Landmarks' acquisition and restoration of this neighborhood anchor <br />building. <br />The History Museum also supports Indiana Landmarks' request for an associated parking <br />variance from the required 30 spaces on site to 13 on -site spaces. To that end, The <br />History Museum supports the removal of the "No Parking" designation in front of the <br />Oliver Gardens as noted on their submission C1.3, Block Plan as well as use of the <br />existing parking along Chapin Street. We are also favorable to entering into a shared use <br />agreement for the 22 spaces in our western most parking lot also noted on C 1.3. We are <br />confident that we can coordinate our limited use of that overflow parking with the <br />occasional needs of Indiana Landmarks. We have allowed such parking for past events <br />and don't see any issues with similar use in the future. The parking variance will allow <br />Indiana Landmarks to remove the negative sea of concrete that currently covers the front <br />and side yards, compactly handle and create screened parking in the rear of the property, <br />eliminate two dangerous entrances on W. Washington Street and reestablish the street <br />presence for the property. <br />The proposal for the repurposing of the Kizer house is a very po <br />restoration of the exterior will enhance the vista from the Oliver <br />West Washington Street and the planned use of the building add <br />concern held by its neighbors. <br />Sincerely, <br />Randy W. Ray <br />Executive Dire r <br />ansi�#QAA WA Of C8 <br />ses a <br />MAY "I'll ZQ16 <br />KAREEMAH FOWLER <br />CRY CLERK, SOUTH BEND, IN <br />FILEn <br />APR 15 2016 <br />AIVAA PLAN COMW1SSION <br />808 West Washington Street South Bend, Indiana 46601 574.235.9664 historymuseumSB.org <br />Owned and operated by the Northern Indiana Historical Society <br />