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Neighborhood Association. The owners of 46 of the 88 <br />parcels involved--52%--had signed a petition <br />supporting the proposed district. The HPC staff had <br />analyzed the proposal and found the area eligible for <br />district status under all basic criteria mandated by <br />ordinance and by HPC policy. He recommended in favor <br />of the proposed district. <br />Mr. Mark Sylvester of 701 Riverside Drive, speaking in <br />favor of the proposal, said he hoped historic district <br />status would help protect the neighborhood from the <br />increasing threat of commercial encroachment. <br />Ms. Katherine Hostetler of 708 N. St. Joseph St. spoke <br />next. She described the area as a cohesive collection <br />of middle-class homes. Several months before, a house <br />had been demolished --the first demolition in that <br />neighborhood in 90 years. The purpose of the district <br />was to preserve the way -of -life of those that dwelt <br />within its boundaries. <br />Mrs. Sporleder asked Ms. Hostetler why the house cited <br />above had been demolished. Ms. Hostetler replied that <br />Memorial Hospital had bought the house, neglected it <br />for two years, then demolished it on the grounds that <br />repairing it would be too costly. <br />Mr. Steve Luecke, president of the South Bend Common <br />Council also spoke in favor of the district. He <br />compared the proposed district to Edgewater Place in <br />situation and general character. <br />Mr. Chris Simons, owner and landlord of 528 N. St. <br />Joseph Street, spoke against the petition. He said he <br />feared that a historic district would decrease the <br />resale value of his property. <br />Mr. Kenyon Tweedell, a 30 -year resident of 210 E. <br />Bartlett, then outlined a 4 -point case in support of <br />the district: <br />--The area in question had historic merit. <br />--The mayor's housing forum had recommended the <br />preservation of downtown neighborhoods contiguous to <br />the downtown area. <br />--The River Bend area was a stable neighborhood, a <br />good place to settle and raise children. <br />--The neighborhood acted as a buffer between <br />commercial/professional establishments and South <br />Bend's green belt (Leeper Park, specifically). <br />Ms. Adeline Macahln, owner of 218 E. Navarre, next <br />voiced her confusion over the district designation <br />procedures. She said she could not take a position on <br />the proposal until she knew more about it. She said <br />