February 1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend's cofounder. Evidence of the location of the canal can still be seen on maps --property lines north of Marion Street from Lincolnway West running northwest past Portage Ave. trace the original canal bed. The canal, or "race," remained in place until circa 1867 when it was filled in, as it had proven to be an unsuccessful venture. The second developmental section of this area, north of the canal (north of Marion Street), began to be developed after 1870. In 1871 the St. Joseph County Agricultural Society subdivided the old fair grounds, site of the "Camp Rose" Civil War encampment; other owners followed suit and by 1900 the entire area proposed as a historic district was platted and being developed. As a whole, the area proposed cannot be differentiated from many others in the city; it does not consist of structures materially different in age or construction from those found elsewhere in South Bend. While it is a good example of the city's fine middle and working-class housing stock, so are the immediately surrounding neighborhoods --and others elsewhere in the city. In addition, while the area fulfills the criteria of portraying "the environment of a group of people in an historical era," it does not provide an example of unusual or distinct merit. Similarly, the proposed district's educational value is of average potential. Conclusion #2: Standard criteria for historic districts suggest designating those groups of structures "that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association," and that are: associated with significant events, local or otherwise; associated with significant people, local or otherwise; comprised of distinctive or characteristic types of construction or readily distinguishable entities of unusual quality; areas likely to provide important historical or prehistorical information.[4] The.structures contained within the proposed area, while retaining "integrity of location," fail, as a whole, to meet the remaining criteria because of alterations, additions and the use of ahistorical materials such as synthetic siding. The retention of a concentration of "distinctive or characteristic types of construction" has been seriously compromised for the same reasons. In addition, the area is no more associated with persons or events of significance than any other section of the city. As discussed above, this area is in no way distinctive, or of such demonstrative importance, to justify its being singled out for designation. It could be argued that many other sections of the city are as --or more --significant. Similarly, it is unlikely that the area will provide "important historical or prehistorical