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immediately replaced by suitable flora. All high-intensity security lights should be approved by the Historic
<br />Preservation Commission.
<br />Prohibited
<br />No changes may be made to the appearance of the site by removing major landscaping items, trees, fencing, walkways,
<br />outbuildings or other elements before evaluating their importance to the property's history and development. Front yard areas
<br />shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped. Front yard areas shall not be fenced and fences shall not
<br />extend forward beyond the setback line of the house. The installation of unsightly devices such as television reception dishes and
<br />solar collectors shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Telephone or utility poles with high-intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the
<br />thoroughfare.
<br />EXISTING STRUCTURES
<br />A. BUILDING MATERIALS
<br />Original exterior wall materials in the district include limestone, flagstone, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, sandstone and
<br />masonry block. In some instances, vinyl or aluminum siding has been applied over the original surface.
<br />Required
<br />Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair, cleaning
<br />and painting. The existing or original architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be retained or
<br />replaced by replicas of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Masonry including brick, limestone,
<br />flagstone, sandstone and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove stains, and shall be done
<br />with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure water and soft natural bristle brushes. When
<br />repairing stucco, stucco mixture compatible in composition, color and texture shall be used.
<br />Recommended
<br />Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. Metal or vinyl siding may be used when it is the only
<br />alternative to maintaining or replacing the original surface material. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should be the
<br />same size and style as the original wood. Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors,
<br />cornices, gables, eaves and other architectural features. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when metal or vinyl
<br />siding has been installed in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or insects. Mortar joints
<br />should be repointed only when there is evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to
<br />stand in the mortar joint. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application and
<br />joint profile. It is emphasized that, prior to initiating any restoration or rehabilitation effort, the property owner should contact the
<br />Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County which is located in the County/City Building of South
<br />Bend. The Commission is an invaluable source of information about all facets of rehabilitation and restoration.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with new material which is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was
<br />constructed, such as artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos or asphalt shingles. Sandblasting or the use of harsh detergents shall
<br />not be used on masonry including brick, stucco, limestone, flagstone and sandstone. This method of cleaning erodes the surface
<br />material and accelerates deterioration. Brick surfaces shall not be painted unless they had been painted originally. Repointing
<br />shall not be done with a mortar of high Portland cement content which can often create a bond that is stronger than the building
<br />material. This can cause deterioration as a result of the differing coefficient of expansion and the differing porosity of the
<br />material and the mortar which can result in serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint shall not be removed from masonry surfaces
<br />indiscriminately.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Waterproof or water repellent coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces
<br />unless required to solve a specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and
<br />expensive, and can accelerate deterioration of the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be repointed.
<br />B. ROOFS AND ROOFING
<br />Roof shapes in the district encompass all the various designs found in residential structures: hipped, gable, gambrel, flat, and
<br />combinations of these. Roofs are covered with a variety of materials such as asphalt, asbestos, wood and slate shingles as well as
<br />clay tiles. Residences in most cases have wood facias with gutters and downspouts. The facias of some vinyl or aluminum sided
<br />houses are covered with the same material.
<br />Required
<br />The existing shape and materials of the roof shall be retained. All architectural features which give the roof its essential character
<br />shall be retained, including dormer windows, cupolas, cornices, brackets, chimneys, cresting and weather vanes.
<br />Recommended
<br />Whenever possible, the original shape and materials of the roof shall be restored. Particular effort should be made to retain
<br />materials such as slate, tile, and other unique materials not commonly found in new construction. Roof covering which is
<br />deteriorated beyond repair should be replaced with new material that matches as closely as possible the original in composition,
<br />size, shape, color and texture. Gutters and downspouts are often a necessary adjunct in order to prevent deterioration of the
<br />structure; they should be maintained whenever possible or replaced with a style comparable and suitable to the architectural
<br />period.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Nothing shall be done to change the essential character of the roof as viewed from the thoroughfare by adding architectural
<br />features or large unsightly fixtures, or by using materials inappropriate to the style of the house. The roof shall not be stripped of
<br />architectural features important to its character.
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