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South Bend edevelopment Commission Regular Mee ing - November 16, 1979 7. PROGRESIS REPORTS a. Mr.lEllison continues... developers, we have to be able to represent to them that we're the guys they`re negotiating with. Not us and the Advisory Council or the Common Council or the Local Historic Preservatton Commission. The Chair recognizes Mrs. Ruth Price. Mrs. Price: I'd just like to make a statement for this gentleman. We say it again; listing on the National Register does not keep you from demolition of a building, It does not restrict you. What it does, if you demolish a building and build a building in its place, commercial interest cannot write off the cost of demolition, That is thE extent of any financial damages in relation to demoli- ti n of a National Register property. To my knowledge, the Re evelopment Department could take that building down any- tine it wanted, and have no other than if the federal funds wo ld be involved. And as long as the Advisory Council con- fe s in what the City . is doing, you are on safe ground. The Ad sory Council is.set to monitor federal funds, and that's all it does. And I don't quite agree with Carl that it comes from one stance. They monitor all kinds of circumstances. So I'would say that no way; as far as I'm personally con ce ned. It is the intent of the Commission to see that the building is not demolished for a purpose that does not seem ob ious to it. As far as local restrictions, whether the building may stay or go or what may happen to it, that deci- si n will be made with a new Common Council; then it is up fo public debate and public forum and I'll go with it any day. Mr. Ellison: Well, Ruth, I just want to point out though if YOL look at the record of the Advisory Council, or Historic Preservation around the country, when it comes to develop - me t agencies, actions on the part of those bodies are signi�- fi ant. For example, the Lockfield Gardens in Indianapolis is a deteriorated public housing project. It probably does deserve the Register, because it's one of the first done in the '3O's, a WPA project. It's one of the few examples that remain in this country. It has 40 times more significance than the Odd Fellows Building ever could. In that instance, for economic reason, the City wanted to tear it down and co perate with the private sector to cause something else to happen. They were enjoined from doing that, and that project continues to sit there today, to deteriorate and crumble. Novi, I don't know how the City of Indianapolis is going to get out of that box, but they've been in it for more than a year and a half, and it appears that they may be in it for -40-