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Page 2A DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (III A) Neighborhoods - to help the three potential historic districts to be designated locally; which would involve helping neighborhoods to organize, determining boundaries and stan- dards that citizens agree to, taking a vote and making a recommendation to the Common Counc i l . Goals: Would fulfill the Historic Preservation Commission, neighborhood, community -wide, and city goals of making our neighborhoods better places to live by maintaining the unique qualities of each area, uniting the neighbors in working toward a common objective, and generating pride among the residents. In addition, attractive, well-maintained historic neighborhoods would make South Bend attractive to new residents. Central Business District - following up on the National Register designation by offering help to commercial building owners. With an additional staff person, the Commission could give technical advice and information on all benefits of the designation, help owners with certification for the Investment -Tax Credit, explain the facade easement program and the tax breaks it includes, and counsel owners on applications for preser- vation matching grants. Goals: To attract developers into underutilized downtown buildings, to encourage revita- lization of buildings in the area and with the.accomplishments of these, to make downtown South Bend a more viable office and retail center. Technical Advice and Infbrmation - to.offer advice and technical help on a much broader scale. The Commission keeps a library.and resource file of practical advice on res- toration techniques that are available'.'as well as information on the Investment Tax Credit, facade easement_ program, and :tmatching grants -mentioned earl ler.- additional staff person would mean disseminating=,this information to a largee segment of the commun ity,.;bxy indtgdual,.Acontadj;:, i > :ge�eratr communI ty; educat iom programs : or:_conferences such as. the:.lg83 Annual "Mayo.c'.sf Confevenee..on Tax Incentives for`: Reha0l ltatlon of �::; ..::... :::::- In 1983,: 'tfie Jobs Bi 11 includeif:;'25. mtiiion 'for Historic Preservation. A- simiiar b 11 is proposed.for Fiscal. 1984,with- an even larger allocation to Historic Preservation. With the two National Register neighborhood districts plus the downtown designation, over 400 buildings will be eligible for the grants in the South Bend area alone. Goals: To disseminate information. about the economic benefits of preservation and.serve as a sourceof -information-,on:preservation technology to as wide'an:audieate as possible.:: Comprehensive Plan - to devise a comprehensive plan for ways to best preserve the historic resources identified in.the city survey. Such a plan would involve, coordinating, with other:city.departments such as .the. code enforcement office to come', up with ways to -:deal with problems -such as otder;=homes'which are allowed_ to deteriorate t6 the point that demolition is necessary (demolition by neglect). Goals: To devise a comprehensive plan to most effectively and efficiently use the material gathered by the survey. Review of Federally Funded Projects - to expedite the review of such projects. In the near future, it i.s expected that a Memorandum of Agreement will be reached with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to enable a review of federally -funded projects at the local level. The Historic Preservation Commission, with its architectural historian/preservation planner on staff, -.would play a major role in this review process. The addition of a staff person with similar exper- ..tise would enable this reviewprocess,:.to be..expedited for both the Historic. Preservation:;: Commission other city agencies and"building owners. Goal: To expedite the review process.