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Home My WebLink About1. 507 River Avenue_AA 2024-1115 PACKETHISTORIC 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: December 10, 2024 Application Number: 2024-1115 Property Location: 507 River Avenue Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Prairie / American Foursquare / 1920 / Whitcomb & Keller Property Owner: Angela Law Landmark or District Designation: Edgewater Place LHD, Ordinance #6846-80 Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: This is a 2 story, foursquare home. The hipped roof has wide over- hanging eaves and is of asphalt shingles. The walls are stucco, and the full open porch has stucco piers and concrete steps. Windows are paired, double-hung 12/1 and 8/1 on the front facade. The front door features twelve lites and a storm door. There is a detached, one-car garage with a hipped roof and wood panel overhead door at the back of the lot. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested retroactive approval to: 1) Install a WamBam ‘no dig’ fence along the northwest side of the property and leading up to the house on the east and west sides. Fence is 4’ tall. (Work already completed). STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Fencing and Retaining Walls: Pages 12-13. SITE VISIT REPORT: Historic Preservation Administrator Ross Van Overberghe and Historic Preservation Specialist Kate Himick were alerted to the construction of a fence without a COA or building permit on November 11, 2024. Specialist Kate Himick inspected and documented the fence from River Avenue the same day. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: As stated in the Standards and Guidelines which guide the decisions of Staff and Commissioners, vinyl is an inappropriate material for a new fence erected in a historic district. The Standards and Guidelines’ general recommendation is that new fences should be constructed of wood, though final recom- mendations may also take into consideration the makeup of fences in the district as a whole. Edgewater Place does not heavily feature vinyl fencing, and front and side yard fences in the district are largely wood. Vinyl is not a rec- ommended material for this instance. Based on the information provided prior to this public hearing, Staff makes an UNFAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION. 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 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov IMAGES — Fence gate on the east side of the house. IMAGES — Fence on the west side of house. Friday, November 15, 2024 Application for Cer tificate of Appropriateness Important Information Regarding this Request REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND SITE PLANS The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County cannot process an Application without required documentation. Comprehensive documentation provides a complete understanding of the project. Problems often occur during a project review or during the execution of the project when the property owner, staff or commissioners are unclear as to project specifics. Applications will NOT be processed without required documentation. Photographs may be submitted in digital format or in photographic print. When a project involves blueprints and/or site plans, one (1) set shall be submitted with the Application. Any documentation submitted to this office cannot be returned to the applicant. APPLICATION FEE The application processing fee for any Application for a Certificate Of Appropriateness is $20 Payment must accompany the application at the time of submission. For an electronically submitted application, payment must reach the HPC office within 48 hours following transmission. Payment can be made by credit card by contacting Business License Administrator Michelle Adams at (574) 235-5912; by cash in person in the Department of Community Investment on the 14th floor of the County City Building; or by check made out to City of South Bend. Applications will NOT be processed without the required fee. MEETING ATTENDANCE When an Application has been scheduled for any meeting, the owner, architect or contractor(s) retained for the project shall attend the meeting where their project will be reviewed and a decision rendered. Failure by the owner, architect, or contractor to attend such meetings may result in denial of the Application due to insufficient representation. CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE Certificates of Appropriateness will be filed with the Building Department of South Bend and St. Joseph County. A copy of the Certificate will be emailed directly to the owner and/or contractor(s) listed on the application. INSPECTION AUTHORITY All projects will be inspected during and following execution for compliance with the decision(s) rendered by the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County. Owner acknowledges that while the Historic Preservation Commission only considers Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior features, under certain circumstances it may be necessary for the Commission Staff to have access to the interior of the building in order to accurately assess the condition of the exterior feature and that the lack of access to the interior may prevent the Commission Staff from making a favorable recommendation. Any work performed on a historic landmark or in an historic district which does not conform to the Certificate of Appropriateness certificate shall be immediately halted by the Historic Preservation 1 Commission and the Building Department of South Bend and St. Joseph County. Fines may be levied for projects not in compliance. I read and understand the information above:Yes, Continue Date Friday, November 15, 2024 2 Property Information Property Address for Proposed Work:507 River Ave Property City South Bend Property Zip Code 46601 Property Owner Information:Angela Law Owner Email Owner Address same as above 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):Fences, Landscaping Contractor Information my husband Andy VandeWalle Contractor Phone Number ( Description of Proposed Work: NOTE: Understanding now that there is a city ordinance for this neighborhood, I will continue to go through the appropriate channels for approval, however, I am frustrated that there were no stated requirements/ordinance documents made known or were given to us, even though we asked the sellers (through their realtor agent) if there was an HOA or any requirements for the historic neighborhood, when we purchased the property at 507 River Ave. and prior to putting up our fence. I am confused as to why the Historic Preservation Commission is not active in regulating and enforcing homeowners who are selling their homes in the Edgewater Place Historic District, to provide this information prior to the sale of their home and pass along documents stating the required city ordinances to adhere to. We want to comply with ordinances, adding to the symmetry and beautification of the historical neighborhood, and would find it distressing if we were to lose any money and time invested in installing our 'no dig' fence to ensure our two dogs security and safety. With this being said, below is the description of the work that has already been completed: WAMBAM 'no dig' fence.' There are 6 1/2 - 4' H x 6' L privacy fence panels which run along the property line on the NW side and connects to a, already existing, 6 ft privacy fence (west of the property) that separates the property from the alley that runs north to south. Additionally, there are 2 - 4' H x 6' L gates on either side of the home that are visible facing the road, River Ave. File Upload Site Plans, Aerial Views, and/or Blueprints: One (1) set shall be submitted with the Application. 3 KH 11/15/24 $20.00 PayPal ID 6NF66161S9167715L 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:Fences, Landscaping Site Plan or Aerial View of Proposed Project Location(s): 93.56 KB Photographs: 62.37 KB 55.45 KB 4 51.77 KB 55.41 KB 55.16 KB Payment Invoice ID # INV-000108 Payment Method Pay via Card or PayPal 5