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STAFF REPORT <br />CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A <br />CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS <br />Date: December 14, 2021 <br />Application Number: 2021-1203 <br />Property Location: 211 North Michigan Street <br />Architectural Style/Date/Architect or Builder: Spanish Colonial Revival / <br />1921 / J.S. Aroner <br />Property Owner: City of South Bend <br />Landmark or District Designation: Local Landmark / National Register of <br />Historic Place <br />Rating: Outstanding <br />DESCRIPTION OF STRUCTURE/ SITE : The Morris Performing Art s Center is a Spanish Colonial Revival <br />Structure. It has an ivory terra-cotta block base on the first floor and ivory colored, granite textured terra cotta brick <br />on the upper floors of the four and five story building. The building is embellished with terra cotta ornaments with <br />a lively Churrigueresque quality that are richly colored in deep brownish red, yellow, light blue and light green. <br />There are five entrances on the main façade each surmounted with a multi-pane transom and surrounded by foliated <br />multi-colored terra cotta. There are modern wood doors in the entrances. A modern marquee is above the first <br />floor. The end bays have round-arched windows with transoms surrounded by terra-cotta columns and entablature <br />on the second floor. On the fourth floor level at the end bays is a terra cotta cartouche containing the letter “P” <br />surrounded by terra-cotta that forms a blind window. The center three bays are lighted by round arched windows <br />extending three stories high. The windows are divided into eighteen (18) multi-paned sections and flanked by tinted <br />terra-cotta pilasters. The center three bays of the building extend into a fifth floor that contains three round-arched <br />casement windows with transom and terra-cotta surrounds. <br />ALTERATIONS: RME 2017-1016 allowed for the replacement of a 30’x50 section of roof above the stage area. <br />COA 2012-0817 allowed for the installation of signage in a 10’ x 30’ display area above the rear loading dock <br />entrances. COA 2011-0401 allowed for the “replacement of the existing entry doors by restoring the woodwork <br />around the door frames and installing custom CROSS aluminum doors and frames to replicate current door style. <br />Restore wood transoms above entry doors and replace glass with insulated glass panes. In-kind replacement of <br />Windows: restore and refurbish existing wood window frames and install sashes with insulated glass to replicate <br />what is there.” COA 2005-0331 allowed for the installation of the marquee over the entrance. COA 1999-1229 <br />allowed for the installation of a temporary 24” reverse channel lettered sign. COA 1998-0129 allowed for the <br />demolition of the stage house and construction of a new stagehouse, the removal of the previous signage on the <br />front façade, replacement of flush metal doors, general exterior refurbishment, and the installation of exterior <br />lighting. <br />APPLICATION ITEMS: “Add “100” to front of building in lighted fashion to commemorate the 100th <br />anniversary of the Morris Performing Arts Center; Sign would be for calendar year 2022.” <br />DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT: The applicant has requested approval to: <br />Install illuminated/electrified numbers (“100”), approximately 10’ tall in the three main windows of the <br />front facade. <br />The numbers will be mounted to the vertical and horizontal structural elements supporting the windows, with <br />conduit being run to provide power to illuminate the numbers. Aluminum angle brackets (1 ½” x 1 ½” x 3/16”) will <br />be affixed to the building structure with 3/8” x 4” concrete anchors. <br />Weight of the individual numbers is estimated to be 50lbs for the “1” and 100lbs for each “0”. <br />STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: Group B Standards <br />The Commission has the authority to determine the architectural merits and the extent of any proposed treatment, renovation, or addition to a <br />historic landmark. The commission will require drawings, plans, specifications, and/or samples where appropriate.