HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. 715 Forest Avenue_COA 2021-0602STAFF REPORT
CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
Date: June 15, 2021
Application Number: 2021-0602
Property Location: 715 Forest Avenue
Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Gable-T / 1890 / “Francis R Otstat House”
Property Owner: Dr. Drew Schmucker
Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park Local Historic District, #9574-05
Rating: Contributing
DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE : Two story t-plan on a brick foundation. Unveiled siding includes
scalloping/scaling on the upper gabled dormers with hood through the cornice. Small rear porches, southern
porch has turned spindles and bracketed entab lature, enclosed front porch entry. Windows are predominantly
1/1 double hung with molded crown and trim, with aluminum storm windows.
ALTERATIONS: RME 2018-0404 allowed for the exploratory removal of the Asbestos siding by the previous
homeowner (this was not completed). AA 2019-0703C allowed for the replacement of the porch roof shingles to
match the main house shingles, as well as to replace the wood fascia with new wood. AA 2021-0318 allowed for
the removal of the Asbestos siding/unveiling of the original siding to assess for condition/rehabilitation.
APPLICATION ITEMS: “Replace one picture window with in-kind double-hung. Remove one casement window
and replace with in kind double hung. Remove one casement window and side opening. Note: no window is
original to structure.”
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to, per a voicemail from the
contractor and submitted photographs from the homeowner:
1. Remove an existing casement window (north façade),
a. replace it a 24” x 37” window with a double-hung,
i. “wood construction on the interior/exterior,”
ii. with opaque glass , because it is by the toilet, “but don’t need to use tempered glass.”
2. Large picture window (south façade), unknown dimensions, with a double-hung, Marvin Signature
Collection Series, Ultimate Wood double-hung insert.
3. A casement window on the primary (east) façade will be removed and sided over.
Marvin Signature Ultimate windows are available in an all-wood option.
This t-plan house originally had a wraparound porch. The removal of the asbestos siding unveiled second story
shingling as well as the previous porch roofline. The homeowner is not pursing installing the porch at this time. At
some point in the past, a previous homeowner enclosed portions of the wrap around porch into livable space. Two
of the requested window changes are in this enclosed space, which is now a bathroom.
None of the windows are ‘original’ to the structure and appear to be later reconfigurations. The enclosed area of
the front porch appears to have been constructed prior to the 1932 Assessment.
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: CHAPIN PARK
II. EXISTING STRUCTURES
A. BUILDING MATERIALS
Original exterior building materials in the district include brick, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, and brick or stone masonry. In some
instances, vinyl, composite and aluminum siding have been applied over the original material.
Required
Original exterior building materials shall be retained when possible. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair,
cleaning and pa inting. The existing architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves shall be retained or replaced by replicas of
the same design when deteriorated beyond repair.
Masonry, including brick and stucco structures, shall be maintained, and properly cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to
remove stains and shall be done in a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low-pressure water and soft natural bristle
brushes. Brick or masonry mortar joints should be repointed only when there is evidence of moisture problems, or when sufficient mortar is
missing to allow water to stand in the mortar joint. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of
application and joint profile.
When repairing stucco, stucco mixture shall be used. A professional shall make a study of the old stucco, to determine the exact mixture and
underlayment used in the original work. Some repair methods are not compatible with the original techniques and may cause early
disintegration of the repair work and the original work.
Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when siding is installed, in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from
moisture and insects.
Recommended
Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. When maintaining or repairing original siding is not feasible,
aluminum, vinyl or composite siding may be used. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should be the same size and style as the
original wood. Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors, cornices gables, eaves and other architectural
features.
Property owners should contact the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County prior to initiating any restoration
or rehabilitation effort. [ Address and contact information is listed in the front of the Guidebook.] The Commission is an invaluable source
of information about all facets of rehabilitation and restoration – materials, methods, contractors and the like.
Prohibited
Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with new materials that is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was constructed, such as
artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos or asphalt shingles.
Sandblasting or the use of harsh detergents shall not be used on masonry including brick, stucco, limestone, flagstone and sandstone. This
method of cleaning erodes the surface material and accelerates deterioration.
Repointing shall not be done with a mortar of high Portland cement content which can often create a bond that is stronger than the building
material. Usage of Portland cement can cause deterioration as a result of the differing coefficient of expansion and porosity of the historic
masonry unit and the mortar. This most often results in serious damage to adjacent brick.
Unpainted masonry surfaces shall not be painted unless they had been painted originally. Paint shall not be removed from masonry surfaces
by any means that damage the surface.
Not Recommended
Waterproof or water repellant coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces unless required to solve a
specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and can accelerate deterioration of
the masonry. Mortar joints, which do not need repointing, should not be repointed. Wood siding should not be power-washed.
C. WINDOWS AND DOORS
Window and door frames are in most cases wood and vary depending upon the style of the home. Many are double-hung windows with
wood trim and sills. Brick structures have stone sills and brick lintels. In some cases where aluminum siding has been applied, the window
and door trim has been covered. About half of the structures in the district have aluminum storm windows; the other half have wood storm
windows.
Required
Original windows and doors shall be retained including sashes, lintels, sills, shutters, decorative glass, pediments, hoods and hardware.
When deteriorated beyond repair, they shall be replaced with units and trim resembling the original.
Recommended
Wood storm windows and doors painted or finished to match the original should be used but should not damage existing frames. If new
sashes or doors are installed, the existing or original materials, design and hardware should be used. When metal storm doors are used, they
should be painted, anodized or coated to match the existing. When awnings are used, they should be of canvas material.
SITE VISIT REPORT:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval.
Prepared by
Adam Toering, Historic Preservation Administrator
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov
MAP OF THE AREA - Google Maps view of the subject area.
SATELLITE/SANBORN IMAGERY - Sandborn Maps: 1899, 1917, 1945, imagery from 2016 of property.
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov
ASSESSOR CARD (FRONT) - 1932 Assessor Card, indicating ownership and property history.
ASSESSOR CARD (BACK) - 1932 Assessor Card, indicating enclosed front porch area present in April 1932.
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov
SUBJECT AREAS: (EAST) - Casement to be removed on front facade (behind ladder), March 2021.
SIDE PICTURE (SOUTH) - Picture of the side of the building including large picture window, March, 2021
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From:
To:Adam Toering
Subject:Re: 715 Forest Avenue Window Replacement Project
Date:Tuesday, June 1, 2021 9:01:08 PM
Hi Adam,
Yes Jeff told me he went in today. He sent photos to me. I’m not sure why he doesn’t email.
But I’m attaching them here.
Do we have the other documentation we need?
Kelly
This is the picture window that will be a double hung.
This is the casement window we are requesting to take out and side over.
This is the casement window we’d like to replace with a window that matches the rest of the
windows better.
Thanks for your help! I know you’re busy.
Kelly Schmucker
On Tue, Jun 1, 2021 at 3:40 PM Adam Toering <atoering@southbendin.gov> wrote:
Ms. Schmucker,
Today I received a Certificate of Appropriateness application for window replacement for
three windows on your property at 715 Forest Avenue, submitted by Jeffrey Dierbeck of
Dierbeck and Associates. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to meet with him at the time of his
office visit as I was out doing site visits (like when I first met you at your house). Received
projects are divided into two categories: those that can be administratively approved by
staff, and those that require review by the Commission at one of their monthly meetings. I
believe this project to be in the second category, although I envision it will be favorably
received by the Commission.
Completed applications require certain information to be submitted to our office including,
but not limited to: the application itself (with the description of the proposed work), the
application fee, site photographs, and proposed product specifications (for replacement
windows, for example). As this project calls for replacing windows, specific product
manufacture, material, and model would be required (Marvin, Pella, etc).
Mr. Dierbeck has submitted the application and paid the fee. Mr. Dierbeck indicated that he
had photos, but was unable to provide those to our staff, as he ‘does not e-mail.’ I do not
know if he has access to a printer.
I’m reaching out to so that you know I would like your project to be on the June meeting
agenda, and that I need more information from Mr. Dierbeck to ensure that your project is
on that agenda. If you want this project to be on the agenda, I’d ask that you please work
with Mr. Dierbeck to ensure that all needed materials are submitted to our office. The
deadline for inclusion on the June meeting agenda is next Monday. The needed materials
can be e-mailed to me, printed and dropped off, or printed and mailed to our office.
I understand you may have questions about the Certificate of Appropriateness review
process. Please do not hesitate to call me with those questions. I have attached the received
application (and a generic application, which includes a checklist to ensure that applications
are complete) to this e-mail. I have also cc’d the e-mail address I have on file for Mr.
Dierbeck, as well as Inspector Ross Van Overberghe.
Adam Toering
Historic Preservation Administrator
Department of Community Investment
(574) 235-7478
atoering@southbendin.gov
City of South Bend
227 W. Jefferson Blvd., Ste. 1400
South Bend, IN 46601
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