04.21.2025 HPC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION This is my first time with a historic home so I did not realize all the implications we used to do things got approved through a process and in this case I guess now it's the homeowner who has to get the approval. Commissioner Andrews: Yeah, it's always the homeowner. Just to give you some background too. So typically they would submit the certificate of appropriateness, and then the staff reviews it, and then if it is. Something that we vote on. Nothing can take place until we vote on it. Mr. Foster: So and and like I said, there's things in our process to stop us, but this one fell through the cracks and that I placed the order. That's not out of the ordinary. Then it goes through a measure tech and and they stop us from producing it. We did not. Get the alert that this was historic or an issue until it was the Windows have already been produced, so they're ready to install on Friday. Like I said, I knew through this a process that the kitchen was likely to get approved. But we built that one as well. And again, no, I don't care for myself. I care for the homeowner. 20° colder in their main living area was a big deal. I thought it was clearly rotted, looked looked bad. I didn't think it was salvageable, but if it's salvageable, I understand that. But that's more of an aesthetics only thing and and this being the only other window on that backside of that house. I didn't think it was going to be a problem. It's definitely would solve the issue for them. Doesn't need a storm window. That's another thing is is, to me, aesthetic wise. A storm window doesn't look historically accurate either. But our windows are pretty. You know, it's gonna look identical as white on the exterior. It's Fibrex instead of wood I understand, but it's dual panel with 99% argon gas, so it would definitely help him out a lot to get this done. The other option of restoring it, just like I said, just cost him money to make it look nicer." Commissioner Andrews: Yeah, the restoration isn't just for appearance, though it's also for function. Mr. Foster: "Yeah, well, I saw the notes from his quotes that they were basically just putting a new storm window on and made potentially new glass and there along with refurbishing the wood. But that's not giving him anymore insulation than he has now, and more functionality like our window would be able to open with a screen and not have to have that storm window in there. Just all around, I thought it was an ideal situation for the customer. Other than this little obstacle, which is not a little obstacle. Like I said, I appreciate what you guys are doing here. But to me, those two windows would it would be ideal for them to look the same. In fact, when I was looking at the standards it did say phase projects with the facade. Not facing the street? There's so it's it's an addition on the back of this house. To have two Windows side by side that look identical might be better in my opinion, but again not in your position but, I just know it solves a lot more him getting a new refurbished window It's still gonna be 20° colder or, you know, a very minimal improvement versus what we would have. So, and that's right where him and his wife sit right inside there. So if we couldn't do the whole house and and for budget reasons, we weren't trying to do that, I just thought this would be the ideal window to replace. Commissioner Andrews: Thank you for your comments. Page I5 April 21, 2025