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STAFF REPORT: NEAR NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD PROPOSED HISTORIC DISTRICT On November 25, 1991 a bill was introduced to the South Bend Common Council by Councilman Stephen Luecke seeking to establish a Local Historic Preservation District in an area northwest of downtown South Bend. The Historic Preservation Commission must make a recommendation concerning this bill within ninety days of its receipt (before 2-25-92). There will be Public Hearing at the HPC regular monthly meeting, February 17, 1992 in order to hear public comment on the matter and send a recommendation to the Common Council. The area proposed --sponsored and initiated by the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association --is roughly bounded by California Avenue on the north, Harrison Street on the west, Lincolnway West on the south and Portage Avenue on the east. The area contains 364 primary structures (houses, churches, commercial buildings) and an as yet undetermined number of ancillary structures (garages, sheds, etc.). Due to time constraints imposed by the HPC staff not being informed by either the neighborhood organization or the sponsor of the bill prior to the bill's introduction, we have been unable to fully complete HPC Implementation Procedures as outlined on page 22 and 54 of The-Preservati_on._ Plan for t_he_Ci_t.y.�ofSouth Bend. Instead, we have conducted an abbreviated analysis of the proposal; all recommendations contained in this report should be seen in that light. The staff has been analyzing the proposed area according to the responsibilities given to the,HPC by ordinance that state that the "designation of ... Historic Preservation Districts" should be "on the basis of historical and cultural significance, educational value and suitability for preservation."[1] In addition, HPC policy adds a fourth criteria, the evaluation of the proposal with respect to "its portrayal of the environment of a group of people in an historical era."[2] This abbreviated analysis has included an initial update of the numerical count of the Survey, specifically assessing the number of remaining contributing/noncontributing structures in the area. Initial research relevant to the historic development of the area has also been conducted. The staff has not had sufficient time to "update Survey cards, including photographs and histories" as suggested by HPC policy.[3]