Pair of Aces

Two homes on the market in northern Indiana offer buyers an opportunity to blend stylish historic appeal with modern convenience.

In South Bend, the c.1890 Rodes House at 846 Park Avenue sits just a block from St. Joseph River in the city’s Chapin Park Historic District. Owned by the same family for more than 60 years, the house is a handsome example of the Queen Anne-style, with ornamental gables, and multi-paned windows with decorative trim. The home underwent exterior rehab, including new paint, just a few years ago.

Inside, the house includes more than 3,000 square feet over three floors, plus a full basement. Original features include wide pocket doors, an oak staircase, oak and heart-pine floors, and a large kitchen space with original oak cabinets. All interior spaces will require complete renovation, including new plumbing, electric, and HVAC systems.

The Rodes House is currently listed for $197,750. Because it is located in a National Register-listed and locally designated historic district, the home qualifies for Indiana’s 20% Residential Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Exterior changes will require review and approval from Indiana Landmarks and the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend.

In Elkhart, the c.1860 Carpenter House is located at 519 W. Franklin Street, just a short walk to downtown. The home’s exterior is an eclectic mix of nineteenth-century features, including a large granite wraparound porch added in the 1880s. Inside Victorian-era elements blend with Craftsman details added during a 1920 remodel and reconfiguration.

The Carpenter House was slated for demolition before Indiana Landmarks acquired the property in 2019. Over the past 18 months, volunteers from the Elkhart Historic and Cultural Preservation Commission have cleaned up the home and yard, revealing oak floors, decorative woodwork and windows, built-ins, and an abundance of flowers, trees, and shrubs.

The house will need complete interior and exterior rehab and could be a good candidate for use as an owner-occupied duplex. The house is available for $37,500 and will be sold with preservation covenants requiring all exterior work to be approved by Indiana Landmarks.

Potential buyers will need to demonstrate proof of financial capacity to undertake the needed rehabilitations, along with an approved plan and timeline. Buyers will have access to measured drawings and complete histories for both houses being drafted by students with the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture Preservation Concentration.

For more information contact Todd Zeiger, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Northern Regional Office, tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org, 574-232-4534.