HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. 313 W Madison Street_COA 2024-0731 (PACKET)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: August 14, 2024
Application Number: 2024-0731
Property Location: 313 W Madison Street
Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder:
Dormer Front Bungalow / 1877 (remodeled 1915, since altered)
Property Owner: AJB Holding LLC
Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park LHD,
Ordinance #9575-05; National Register of Historic Places
Rating: Contributing
DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: This 2 story house has an irregular plan and sits upon a brick foun-
dation. The exterior walls are vinyl and the roof is a steep-pitched gable roof. The back addition has a hipped roof.
The roof and the front former are covered in asphalt shingles. There is a full-width front porch, with the porch roof
being an extension of the main roof, supported by brick piers. The majority of the windows are 1/1 sash windows,
with a large picture window in front and an oval window on the west elevation. A 2 story addition to the back was
approved in 2017. There is a large, gamblrel roofed garage at the rear of the property.
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to:
1) Construct a 2 story deck on rear of house for 1st and 2nd floor rear exit (work already completed).
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES:
Site Projects: 22-24.
Chapin Park Local Historic District: 156-159.
SITE VISIT REPORT: N/A.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The scale of the 2 story deck is inappropriate for the house as well as the
broader neighborhood. The overall massing of the deck is incompatible with the house, as can be seen in the image
of the west elevation (Image 2). The District Addendum for Chapin Park states that the proportions of site projects,
“shall conform to those required for new construction,” which consider scale and massing (p. 157). Due to the large
size of this deck in comparison to the house and other decks in the neighborhood, staff makes an UNFAVOR -
ABLE RECOMMENDATION.
Staff would support a scaled down version of the current deck in order to comply with the current Standards and
Guidelines.
Prepared by
Kate Himick, 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 IMAGERY — Imagery from 2024 (deck not shown)
Proper ty Information
Property Address for Proposed Work:313 W Madison St
Property City South Bend
Property Zip Code 46601
Property Owner Information:AJB Holding LLC
Owner Email
Owner Address 1621 College St, South Bend, IN 46628
Proposed Work and Project Information
All projects must comply with applicable building and zoning codes.
South Bend Zoning Ordinance St. Joseph County Zoning Ordinance
Does your project involve any of the
following? (Check all that apply):New Construction, Additions
Contractor Information Blair Mast Custom Home Builders Joe Blair
Contractor Phone Number (574) 302-7577
Description of Proposed Work:
Double deck on rear of house for 1st and 2nd floor rear exit and space to entertain and enjoy
File Upload
Site Plans, Aerial Views, and/or Blueprints: One (1) set shall be submitted with the Application.
Uploaded documentation must show existing property lines, buildings, structures, and proposed project
location(s). Hand Drawn Plans/Elevations are ok
Photographs to include: each area affected by project, close up detail of project areas.
Windows, Siding, and/or Door projects must include photographs of each window/door/siding affected
by the project and detailed close up of condition
Applications will not be processed if the required photographs and/or documentation are not
included.
Any documentation submitted to this office cannot be returned to the applicant.
Project Type - List:New Construction, Additions
Site Plan or Aerial View of Proposed
Project Location(s):PDF Scan07312024172402.pdf
2
Structural Drawings/Architectural
Drawings:
4.13 MB
Photographs:
4.75 MB 5.17 MB
3.97 MB 4.13 MB
I have included all required
photographs and documentation for
my application, as described above. I
understand these items will not be
returned.
I Affirm
3
Signature of Property Owner:
Payment
Invoice ID # INV-000055
Payment Method Pay in Person
4
313-315 W Madison (recorded under both addresses)
Aaron Bechtel <aj@bigrealtyservices.com>
Fri 8/2/2024 4:50 PM
To: Kate Himick <Khimick@southbendin.gov>
Thank you for your help to finally get the issues with this house resolved.
I am a local realtor, and I helped a client purchase this property and save it from demolition in 2016. It
was my understanding then, that he completed a large addition to the back of the property changing
the roof line and stripped the house down to the studs to prepare for a full renovation. He brought
new power to the house and installed new meter box and breaker box, changed all of the windows,
new roof, installed new siding, tuck pointed the brick work, and installed new rear doors. He was later
diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and it brought the job to a halt. After a while of the property
sitting empty, he decided that he could no longer complete the remodel. At that time I brought
another investor to purchase the property in 2021 and he intended to complete the remodel. He used
some of my contractor associates, started the electrical rough-in, HVAC, gas lines, and cleaned up the
house to bring the house back to a single family residence. Some of his other contractors were not
following through on the work so he asked me to help complete the project. I am the owner of A JB
Holding LLC, and I then informed him that I am running my own businesses and would have limited
time to deal with this property. After a little while he became eager to get his funds producing income,
so I agreed to take it over. There was so much money tied up in the house there was no chance to
make money without finishing the project. I ended up agreeing to buy the property over time and
attempt to complete the job. It has been a very long project, and my first one to complete. With all of
the changes in ownership and some impatience on the part of the financial partner, we did our best to
get all of the necessary permits, and file appropriately. I was under the impression that the request for
the double deck on the rear of the house had been properly filed by the first owner, since we had
discussed the rear exits that he had installed. When the builder "Blair Mast Custom Builders" was hired
for the completion of the rear deck, they thought that I had gotten the permit and I thought they had.
It was an oversight, and we had many back and forth issues due to some of the permits being filed on
the wrong address. The house sits on one lot addressed 313, but the 2 lots were combined after the
house once at 315 was torn down. The parcels were combined years ago, but the recorded address is
mixed up depending on what department it is searched for. We are nearly done, and the only permit
still to be completed is the one regarding this back deck. We need permission for it before the city will
approve the permit.
This house was on the demo list, and has been through quite a journey over the last few years, but we
are hoping to get this occupied by a new family that will enjoy the area as much as my family has. We
have had multiple compliments from neighbors regarding the finish and appeal of the decks. We hope
that you approve this addition that was an unfortunate oversight and is one of the best features of this
beautiful home. We look forward to a new owner's enjoyment of this home in the near future. Thank
you for your consideration.
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