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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1. 836 Forest Avenue_COA 2026-0501B PacketHISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Ph: 574-235-9371 | hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov | www.southbendin.gov/HPC STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: May 7, 2026 Application Number: 2026-0501B Property Location: 836 Forest Avenue Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: American Four- square / 1891-1895 / Property Owner: Lara and Kurtt Matthys Landmark or District Designation: Chapin Park LHD, Ord. #9575-05; Chapin Park Register Historic District NR-0407 Rating: Contributing DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/SITE: This is a two-story American Foursquare plan home on a brick foundation with a central brick chimney. It is sided with wood clapboard with corner boards and a belt band be- tween stories. The roof is of asphalt shingle, with a center front dormer. There is an enclosed full width front porch with fixed single pane and 4 light windows throughout. The house has 5/1 double hung windows with vertical light divisions in the upper sashes. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: 1) Relocate rear door from east facing wall to the north facing wall of rear bump out, replace opening with a win- dow to fit. 2) Rebuild brick front stoop with cheek walls capped with concrete. Salvaged brick from the original front porch will be used. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Doors: Pages 10-11; Porches: Pages 17-18; Windows: Pages 29-32; SITE VISIT REPORT: On March 30, 2026 Administrator Van Overberghe visited the project site. He reviewed the proposed projects with the property owners and helped discover the bricks from the original porch and theo- rized with the owners about what the original porch likely looked like. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The relocation of the rear door is a minimal change. The proposed modifica- tions to the rear and the reconstruction of the porch will not significantly impact the historic integrity of the house or property. Based on the information provided prior to this public hearing, Staff make a FAVORABLE REC - OMMENDATION. Prepared by Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Ph: 574-235-9371 | hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov | www.southbendin.gov/HPC MAP OF THE AREA — Google Maps view of the subject area. SATELLITE IMAGERY — Imagery from 2025 Friday, May 1, 2026 Application for Certificate 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. 1 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 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 Monday, April 27, 2026 2 Proper ty Information Property Address for Proposed Work:836 Forest Ave Property City South Bend Property Zip Code 46616 Property Owner Information:LKM Realty LLC Owner Email 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):Windows, Siding, Doors Contractor Information Making Four LLC General Contracting Lara Matthys Contractor Phone Number ( Description of Proposed Work: 1. Relocate the back door from the east facing wall of the house to the north facing bump out of the lean to on the back porch. We will make a window to fit into the original location and reuse the door with the transom for the new location. 2. Rebuild the stoop at the front of the house and pouring new concrete steps. We believe this house used to have a front stoop with cheek walls made of brick and capped with concrete. Whatever was original has been removed and replaced with precast concrete steps. There is a stack of the original bricks in the backyard that we would like to use to rebuild the cheek wall. See photos of the stoop of a similar property (1049 Riverside Drive). 3 Specification of Material via Manufacture Brochure: 9.12 MB 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:Windows, Siding, Doors 4 Elevations (Existing and Proposed New): 4.64 MB 2.53 MB 5 4.2 MB 6.32 MB 6.4 MB Quote/Evaluation(s) by Repair Professional (Optional): PDF COA Document 836 Forest Ave.docx.pdf 6 Photographs: 2.88 MB 2.96 MB 4.64 MB 8.3 MB 7 Payment Invoice ID # INV-000239 Payment Method Pay via Card or PayPal 8 Proposed Exterior Changes to 836 Forest Ave, South Bend, IN 46616 1. Relocate the back door from the east facing wall of the house to the north facing wall of the bump out on the back porch. We plan to reuse the original door, transom, and trim if possible. We will have to modify the existing door from a right-handed door to a left-handed door. The original door size with the trim is 91” x 41.” This is to remain the same in the new location. We will reuse the framing and make a 46” x 41” window and matching trim to fit into the former location of the back door. Kurtt plans to build the window to match the other windows of the house with a divided upper sash and a single pane lower sash. 2. Rebuild the stoop at the front of the house and pour new concrete steps. We believe this house used to have a front stoop with wing walls made of brick and capped with concrete. Whatever was original has been removed and replaced with precast concrete steps. There is a stack of the original bricks in the backyard that we will use in addition to new bricks to rebuild the wing wall s. See photos of a similar property (1049 Riverside Drive) that we would like to replicate. We have a considerable amount of carpentry and general construction skills combined with an eye for proportion and detail. For this reason, we plan to do this work on our own. For some examples of our work, please see our website makingfour.com . We also purchased and restored 846 Forest Ave a few years ago.