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Home My WebLink About1. 902 Riverside Drive_COA 2022-0902B (CONTINUED)HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: October 11, 2022 Application Number: 2022-00902B Property Location: 902 Riverside Drive Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Colonial Revival / 1906 / Property Owner: Stephen Lancaster, Kevin Vaughn Landmark or District Designation: Riverside Drive Local Historic District #7469-85 Rating: Significant/Notable DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE: The Rosencrans House is a 2.5 story Colonial Revival house of a rec- tangular plan. The foundation is brick, and the facades are wood shingles with corner boards, wide frieze boards and comer blocks. The gabled roof is covered with asphalt shingles, and a pedimented entry portico leads into the house. Windows are 6 over 1 double hung wood frame windows, and a tall round arched window tops the entry. ALTERATIONS: AA 2020-0618 allowed for the repair and replacement in-kind multiple attic and basement win- dows and replace exterior crown and cove millwork along roofline. AA 2019-1007 allowed for the replacement of the asphalt roof. AA 2019-0826 allowed for the removal, cleaning and replacement of the front entrance and corner brick work. COA 2009-0702A replace tin roof on porch with rubber membrane. In-kind replacement of soffit and facia and ornamental railing will be crafted from treated wood and painted. COA 1991 -0730 allowed for the re- placement in-kind of cedar shake shingles on the south (street side) façade. APPLICATION ITEMS: “We propose to 1) remove all existing exterior window shutters from the main structure and repaint the newly-exposed siding in the existing paint color, and 2) remove the wooden railing on the roof of the east-facing porch..” DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: 1) Remove all exterior shutters from the main house 2) Remove decorative railing on the roof of the east facing porch STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Riverside Drive Local Historic District Guidelines & Standards II. EXISTING STRUCTURES A. BUILDING MATERIALS Original exterior wall materials in the district include limestone, flagstone, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, sandstone an d masonry block. In some instances, vinyl or aluminum siding has been applied over the original surface. Required Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair, c leaning and painting. The existing or original architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be retained or r eplaced by replicas of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Masonry including brick, limestone, flagstone, sand- stone and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove stains, and shall be done with a met hod ac- ceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure water and soft natural bristle bushes. When repairing stucco , stucco mixture compatible in composition, color and texture shall be used. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov Recommended Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. Metal or vinyl siding may be used when it is the only alterna- tive to maintaining or replacing the original surface material. 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. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when metal or vinyl siding has been insta lled in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or insects. Mortar joints should be repointed on ly when there is little evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to stand in the mortar join t. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application, and joint profile. It is empha sized that, prior to initiating any restoration or rehabilitation effort, the property owner should contact the Historic Preservation Com mission of South Bend and St. Joseph County which is located in the County/City Building of South Bend. The Commission is an invaluable source of information about all facets of rehabilitation and restoration. Prohibited Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with new material which is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was constru cted, 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 an d accel- erates deterioration. Brick surfaces shall not be painted unless they had been painted unless they had been painted original ly. Re- pointing 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. This can cause deterioration as a result of the differing coefficient of expansion and the differing poro sity of the material and the mortar which can result in serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint shall not be removed from masonry surfac es in- discriminately. Not Recommended Waterproof or water repellent coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces unless requ ired to solve a specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and can ac celerate deterioration of the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be repointed. ... C. WINDOWS AND DOORS Window and door frames are in most cases wood. Brick structures have stone sills and brick lintels. In some cases where alu minum siding has been applied window trim has been covered. About half of the structures in the district have aluminum storm windo ws, the other half wood windows. Required Original windows and doors shall be retained including sashes, lintels, sills, shutters, decorative glass, pediments, hoods, and hard- ware. When deteriorated beyond repair, they shall be replaced with units and trim resembling the original. Recommended Wood frame storm windows and doors painted to match the original should be used should not damage existing frames. If new sa sh- es or doors are installed, the existing or original materials, design, and hardware should be used. When metal storm doors a re used, they should be painted, anodized or coated to match the existing. When awnings are used they should be of canvas material. Prohibited Original doors, windows, and hardware shall not be discarded when they can be restored and reused in place. New window and d oor openings which would alter the scale and proportion of the building shall not be introduced. Inappropriate new window and do or features, such as aluminum insulating glass combinations that require removal of the original windows and doors, shall not be in- stalled. Not Recommended Awnings, hoods, and fake shutters made of metal, vinyl, or fiberglass should not be used if they would detract from the exist ing character or appearance of the building. D. ENTRANCES, PORCHES AND STEPS Most houses in the district have either an open or enclosed porch across the front. Most porches have either hip or gabled r oofs or are covered by the main roof of the house. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov Required Existing or original porches, stoops, patios, and steps, including handrails, balusters, columns, brackets, tiles and roof de corations, shall be retained or replaced by replica of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Porches and addit ions reflecting later architectural styles and which are important to the building ’s historical integrity, shall be retained. Recommended When enclosing porches for heat conservation or for other reasons, it should be done in a manner that does not alter the arch itectural or historical character of the building. Prohibited Front porches, stoops, patios, and steps that are important to the building ’s style and development shall not be altered or removed. Not Recommended Original porch details should not be replaced with materials representing an earlier period or style from the original. SITE VISIT REPORT: Staff made a site visit on October 11, 2022 and met with the property owner. An inspec- tion of the house and the construction of the shutters was completed. There was no evidence of mounting brackets, hinges, hold-backs, or other hardware indicating the existence of original functioning shutters. Inspection of shutter construction showed modern materials and use of modern joinery. No indications were evident that the shutters were original, nor reconstructed to resemble original patterns. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff makes no recommendation. Prepared by Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Specialist 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 — Sanborn Maps:1917, 1945, 1960, imagery from 2021. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov West Facade South Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov East Facade Southeast Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov East Facade East Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov West Facade West Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov North Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov North Facade HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY County—City Building, South Bend, IN 46601 http://www.southbendin.gov/government/department/community-investment Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov Michele Gelfman, President A Certified Local Government of the National Park Service Adam Toering, Historic Preservation Administrator OFFICE USE ONLY>>>>>>DO NOT COMPLETE ANY ENTRIES CONTAINED IN THIS BOX<<<<<<OFFICE USE ONLY Date Received: ____________________ Application Number: ____________—___________________________________ Past Reviews: YES (Date of Last Review) _____________________________ NO Staff Approval authorized by: _________________________________________________________ Title: __________________________ Historic Preservation Commission Review Date: __________________________________________________________________________ Local Landmark Local Historic District (Name) ________________________________________ National Landmark National Register District (Name) _____________________________________ Certificate Of Appropriateness: Denied Tabled Sent To Committee Approved and issued: _____________________ Address of Property for proposed work: ________________________________________________________________________ (Street Number—Street Name—City—Zip) Name of Property Owner(s): __________________________________________________ Phone #: ______________________ Address of Property Owner(s): _______________________________________________________________________________ (Street Number—Street Name—City—Zip) Name of Contractor(s): _______________________________________________________ Phone #: ______________________ Contractor Company Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Address of Contractor Company: ______________________________________________________________________________ (Street Number—Street Name—City—Zip) Current Use of Building: _____________________________________________________________________________________ (Single Family—Multi-Family—Commercial—Government—Industrial—Vacant—etc.) Type of Building Construction: ________________________________________________________________________________ (Wood Frame—Brick—Stone—Steel—Concrete—Other) Landscape New Replacement (not in-kind) Demolition Proposed Work: (more than one box may be checked) Description of Proposed Work: _______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Owner e-mail: __________________________________ and/or Contractor e-mail: ___________________________________ X _______________________________________________ and/or X _______________________________________________ Signature of Owner Signature of Contractor By signing this application I agree to abide by all local regulations related to project and to obtain a Building Department Permit, if applicable. —APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ARE LISTED ON REVERSE SIDE— APPLICATION FOR A — CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application for Certificate of Appropriateness Written Description and Examples Stephen Lancaster and Kevin Vaughn 902 Riverside Dr, South Bend IN 46616 Sep 2, 2022 Introduction After purchasing Rosencrans House in February 2019, we gradually realized that two exterior features of this home seemed incongruous with its 1906 colonial revival style: 1) exterior window shutters and 2) the railing above the east-facing porch. The following description includes our rationale for removing both features permanently. Exterior Shutters Exterior window shutters are present on the east, west, and south sides of the building and are in an advanced stage of deterioration. The wood is rotting at the edges, and the paint is peeling, especially on the south facade facing Riverside Drive. We have observed the following: ●Shutter placement is inconsistent around the exterior (not all windows were fitted with shutters); ●All shutters are decorative only, not operable; ●Except for those on the south facade, shutters impact the corner pilasters and/or other original trim or architectural features; ●Shutters on the south facade exaggerate the proportion of the windows, causing a proportional imbalance among the architectural features on that side of the house. We consider the shutters to be a decorative addition (probably post-1969), not original to the structure. Additional considerations: ●Upon removal during exterior painting, an original paint color was discovered underneath the shutters on the edge of the original window surround; this color is not present on the shutters themselves. ●The panels of the shutters appear to be a post-1906 wood product and/or plywood. ●Only one paint layer is evident on the shutters and it does NOT contain lead according to an at-home test kit, implying installation after the ban on lead paint in 1978. The shutters are currently in storage while we complete exterior painting. We propose to repaint the newly-exposed siding in the current paint color and discard the shutters themselves. Porch Railing There are three porches on the exterior of this home: 1.Main porch/stoop over the front door (west side, pitched roof) 2.Kitchen door porch (north side, flat roof, no railing) 3.Back porch (east side, flat roof, wooden railing) The design of the east porch roof railing matches the property fence below, and we believe that they were constructed around the same time (post-1969). Both designs feature an “X” pattern between regular posts, all executed in wood. The wood of the porch railing is of low quality, standard modern 2x4 size, and secured with modern nails or screws. The paint is peeling but it tests negative for lead using an at-home test kit. No other architectural feature on this house contains an “X” pattern, and the other flat-roofed porch does not have a roof railing. The railing is constructed without detail; no attempt was made to match the molding of the porch columns below or the detail of the pilasters and capitals on the corners of the house. The east porch roof is inaccessible from the second floor of the house, so no railing is necessary for safety. Removing the railing would make the east porch consistent in style with the north porch, and, we believe, return the east facade to its original appearance. The railing is currently in place, and we request permission to remove it entirely. Examples Example 1: Main (west) facade showing inconsistent shutter placement and impact to the southwest pilaster by the right-most window. Photo dated Nov. 6, 2019 Example 2: Rear (east) facade showing inconsistent shutter placement and pilaster impact by all sets of shutters. The upper porch railing is also seen here, out-of-proportion to the porch itself and the original square columns. The railing is both too short and the boards and posts too narrow in comparison to the porch. Photo dated May 6, 2020 Example 3: North and east facades showing shutters and porch railing. Photo dated July 4, 2019 Example 4: South facade showing shutter placement and porch railing (right). Photo dated March 24, 2020 Example 5: South facade shutter detail showing advanced deterioration and non-operating attachment to the window surround. Photo dated May 31, 2021 Example 6: South facade with shutters removed during trim painting. Without the shutters the windows are in better proportion to the architecture, especially the width of the pilasters and pitched roofline. Photo dated July 25, 2022 Example 7: Main (west) facade with single set of shutters on the top right window removed. Shutters were not applied to the top left window, probably because modern electrical service was already installed in the top left corner of the building, making shutter installation impossible and/or dangerous. This also implies that the shutters were added in the 1970s or 1980s, after the previous owner purchased the property but before the historical district was established. Photo dated August 21, 2022