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January 16, 1978 Page 2 that the December minutes be approved as submitted. Mr. Al Stivers se- conded this motion and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Ruth. Price made a motion and resolution that the courtesy of the floor be extended to Peter J. Nemeth, Mayor of South Bend, at this time. Mr. Nimtz seconded this motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Oxian then stated that the floor is hereby open for all discussion of the Main Street Commercial Historic District. Mr. Nemeth introduced himself as the Mayor of South Bend and thanked the Commission members for giving him the opportunity of speaking. He reminded the Commission that he had sent a letter, dated December 29, 1977, asking..the Commission to withdraw the application for designation of an historic district in downtown South Bend, specifically involving the Odd Fellows Building, the JMS Building and the Oliver Building. He felt this application was creating stumbling blocks for the adminis- tration in getting approval for the federal financing they were attempt- ing to obtain to proceed with the Century Mall prograih. He said he was here tonight in view of the action taken by the City Council on Thursday to withdraw his request for the Commission to withdraw the application. He then read a portion of the content of a letter Common Council Pres- ident Parent sent to Joseph Cloud, State Historic Preservation Officer, to wit: "The South Bend City Council finds the proposed Century Mall has no adverse effect on any properties which may be listed, which may be eligible to be listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Conversely, the proposed Century Mall could have a beneficial effect on historic properties in South Bend through general economic strength- ening of the downtown." Mr Nemeth noted that the above statement should not be construed as City Council support of downtown buildings which may or may not have historic value. He hoped the Commission would adopt those statements. Mayor Nemeth again respectfully requested that the Commission consider and approve the foregoing statement. Mr. Roger O. Parent then spoke and commended the Commission for its role in historic preservation and said he was instrumental in working on the ordinance which initially set up the Commission. He felt that the fore- going statement, adopted by the Council in a 95fl vote, was the best kind of action the Common Council could take. He, likewise, urged the Commis- sion to accept the statement. He wanted the Commission to know that the Council did not, at its last meeting, say that there were no buildings of historic value downtown. Ms. Deloris Davisson then addressed the Commission and thanked the Mayor for the stand he has taken and that the Council has recognized the value of the three buildings in question. She felt education of the public was important and that these buildings were representative of events that happened in the community and of people that lived in the community. They related to the Olivers, the Studebakers, and also to the Chicago School of Architecture; She said she was happy to hear that these buildings are not in the redevelopment area and added she would like to have the public informed about what buildings are in the redevelopment area and what are not. She again commended the Mayor for rescinding his appeal to the Commission to withdraw the nomination. She said preservation groups