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Staff Report: Proposed Designation of Studebaker Golf Course April, 1992 At the March HPC meeting a presentation was made by Mr. Tom Haas of the South Bend District Golf Association concerning the municipally -owned Studebaker Golf Course on Ewing Avenue. Mr. Haas discussed ongoing negotiations between the School Corporation and others that he and his organization felt had placed the g o l f course at r i s k . He described various plans that would incorporate either part or all of the golf course into school property (Riley High School), effectively destroying it as a recreational f a c i l i t y . Mr. Haas requested the_ HPC to consider recommending to the Common Council that the golf course be designated a Local Historic Landmark. The South Bend Tribune reported on March 27, 1992 that a tentative decision had been made to build a new middle school on the Riley site. This decision would necessitate the acquisition of additional land to meet minimum state requirements for such a facility. Acreage requirements mandate at least 12 acres for the first 300 students with one additional acre for every 100 students above 300. It is estimated that a new middle school would require at least 18 acres; the Riley site now has 12.06 acres. Studebaker Golf course now has approximately 24 acres. The designation of this site would set a precedent in St. Joseph County. Even though the HPC has already recommended the designation of two cemeteries as Local Historic Landmarks, no other "historic designed landscapes" have been so designated. There are however, examples around the country of designed historic landscapes being protected by historic designation and being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] The HPC directed the staff in March to prepare a report concerning this proposal. The following report contains staff recommendations concerning the matter as well as a historic evaluation of the site. Staff Recommendations In order to be locally designated, the Studebaker Golf Course should be evaluated by HPC policy and criteria intended for all public historic resources in the county or city (I have attached a copy of this policy for your information). These criteria state that sites recommended for designation be rated "eleven or higher on the ... survey." Neither this site or any structure on it has been placed on the survey or rated.[1] 1