Elkhart preservation commission records staff approvals for four exterior projects; homeowners cite security concerns for Prairie Street request

Elkhart Historic and Cultural Preservation Commission members on Sept. 18 recorded staff approvals for several exterior projects across the East Beardsley and Prairie Street historic districts and approved one certificate of appropriateness after homeowners described security concerns.

The commission read into the record staff approvals for roof replacements at 214 State Street and 215 State Street, a concrete driveway slab and replacement storage shed at 600 Prairie Street, and a fence and storage-shed project at the Havilah Beardsley house at 102 West Beardsley. Commissioners formally moved to accept the staff recommendation for the certificate of appropriateness (COA) for a vinyl privacy fence at 600 Prairie Street and approved it by voice vote.

Commission staff member Deb Harsall, representing Indiana Landmarks in the meeting record, told the commission that the house at 600 Prairie Street is noncontributing to the historic district because it was constructed in 1971 and that staff recommended approval of a six-foot vinyl fence at the rear and side of the…