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• 216 W. Washington (Tower Building) HISTORICAL CONTEXT This property is located on the south side of W. Washington Street, between S. Lafayette and S. Main in downtown South Bend, Indiana. It is described as 48' E. Lot 258 of Original Plat South Bend. The properties earliest known- owners were James Oliver II, Gertrude Cunningham, Charles Cunningham, Joseph D. Oliver and S. Catherine Oliver. On February 27, 1920 the owners sold the property to the Building and Loan Association of South Bend for one dollar and other valuable considerations. The Building and Loan Association of South Bend was incorporated on June 26, 1882 with the signatures of fifty men. The object and purpose of the Association was to accumulate funds through the use of by monthly contributions, fines, premiums on loans, interest - on investments, to enable the stock holders to build or purchase for themselves dwelling houses or other such real estate as they may deem advantageous. The Association announced on September 9, 1928 that they were erecting a $300,00.00 building at 216 W. Washington. The architecture was to be Commercial Gothic with twelve stories, making it the first building' in South Bend to reach the height limit set by South Bend building code. The building was designed by local architects Austin and Shambleu and built by H.G. Christman and Company. The twelve story, fire proof, steel framed building was opened to the public on December 27, 1929. The building stayed under the ownership of the Association until 1972 when it was purchased by the Tower Federal Savings and Loan Association, which could possibly have been the same Association only with a different • name. The building is now owned by E III Holdings Ltd. Liability Co., who purchased it in 1995. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The building is a twelve story Commercial Gothic type designed by Austin ,& Shambleau. The structure is approximately 24 feet in width from East to West and is square by design.- The foundation is made of concrete, the framing is steel and it has a flat roof with a parapet around it and a cut stone cap. The walls- have five bays across the main facade, engaged corner columns, decorated panels and an exterior covered with marble and terra cotta. There is a perpendicular style false porch projecting from the second floor. The entry doors are triple leaf bronze with bronze decorated spandrel and elaborate Gothic motifs. The windows are plain double hung metal 1/ls. Additional features consist of Gargoyles on three corners of the eleventh floor and the building boasts automatically controlled elevators. On October 10, 1929 Westinghouse multi -colored flood lights were used to illuminate the building. RECOMMENDATION Based on the Historic -Preservation Commission's Local Landmarks Criteria as • adopted by the County Council, the building at 216 West Washington has been recommended to the Historic Preservation Commission for designation as a Local Historic Landmark by its Historic Landmarks Committee.