The City of La Porte, the Downtown Design Standards Committee, and Maple City Sports all coordinated to bring about improvements to the third floor window coverings of Maple City Sports on Tuesday, August 5. Efforts to restore the window coverings began in 2006 when the owner of 718 Lincolnway was contacted by the La Porte Code Compliance Department regarding various code violations including but not limited to the condition of the coverings on the third story windows.
The La Porte Code Compliance Department explained that owner efforts needed to be made to replace the windows and restore them to their original condition. The owner began researching the nine foot tall windows required for the building, but was unable to purchase the windows due to financial constraints and requested to replace the coverings with siding. The Downtown Design Standards Committee rejected the siding as acceptable window coverings, so the La Porte Code Compliance Department continued to work with the owner on the windows and other compliance issues noted by a Professional Engineer.
Due to the specific condition of the second and third floors, the Professional Engineer recommended the owner replace, re-board, and caulk or otherwise make the second and third floors watertight in order to prevent further moisture infiltration through the window openings.
While measures were taken to mitigate the health and safety concerns of the deterioration of the second and third floors, little progress was made to address the window coverings. The La Porte Code Compliance Department worked to determine appropriate standards for the unique condition of this building through court hearings in 2009 and 2010. Unfortunately, due to a lack of agreement on coverings, a final resolution was not pursued by the City and no action was taken. In mid-2013, a different City Administration placed a focus on ensuring code compliance across the City, including the downtown and the status of the Maple City Sports building was once again analyzed with pressure for a resolution put into place.
The Code Compliance Department began conversations with the Downtown Design Standards Committee on what some acceptable compromises might be between replacing the windows (unacceptable for the owner due to cost) and installing the siding (unacceptable to the Committee due to aesthetics).
In October 2013, the Committee consulted Indiana Landmarks to find a recommended, inexpensive improvement to the third floor windows at the Maple City Sports building where covers would be designed to look like a traditional double hung window. Detail was provided for the type of wood to be used, the type and color of paint to be applied, and the wood stripping that was necessary. The owner was able to purchase the materials necessary in order to move forward with the re-covering of the windows and completing the project at his cost. The La Porte Circuit Court was informed regarding this action, but the owner stated that he was unable to, at that time, find a truck that would reach to the level of the windows on the third floor to place the completed coverings. The Court was informed that the La Porte Code Compliance Department would work with the owner to find a way to complete the project to which authority was granted to move forward in order to bring this property into compliance.
Given the years of efforts to improve the window coverings on the Maple City Sports building, the City looked for ways to assist in order to move forward with getting the rotted coverings replaced for the benefit of La Porte's downtown. Code Compliance reached out to other departments within the City to determine whether there would be any potential assistance and/or training opportunities that could be provided with this project. Both the Street and Fire Departments offered to assist while taking advantage of the opportunity for training.
In less than two hours on Tuesday morning, eight years' worth of legal deliberations were brought to a close by combining the efforts of La Porte's Street, Fire, Code Compliance, Police and Legal Departments, as well as the Downtown Design Standards Committee and Maple City Sports. The result is new window coverings designed to replicate windows on the third floor of the building, drastically improving the appearance and safety of one of La Porte's prominent downtown buildings.