June 1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STAFF REPORT PROPOSED TAYLOR FIELD LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT: CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION AND HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County At its regular monthly meeting on March 16, 1998 the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted to proceed with plans discussed for the designation of this district. On this occasion- it was determined to forward the draft ordinance to the South Bend Common Council prior to holding Public Hearing at the commission level. The Common Council having received the ordinance proceeded with a first reading on April 13 and subsequently referred the ordinance back to the HPC for a Public Hearing within 90 days. The HPC held first reading of a proposal to designate this neighborhood as a Local Histori.c Preservation District at its regular meeting of April 20. The proposed area is'bounded by Monroe Street to the North, Bronson Street to the South, all of the east side and most of the west side of S. St. Joseph Street, -and most of the properties located on the west and east side of Carroll- Street. It also includes all of the properties on both sides of East South Street from the alley between Michigan and South St. Joseph to the alley between Carroll and Columbia Streets, all of the properties on the north 'side of Bronson between South St. Joseph and Carroll street and one property on the South side of Monroe Street (see attached map). The proposed district contains 51 primary structures consisting of mostly of single family or duplex residential structures, two institutional buildings, and a single commercial structure. There are also numerous ancillary structures -including garages, sheds and other buildings. The HPC Staff has been analyzing the proposal according to. the responsibilities mandated by ordinance that state that the "designation of ...Histor-i.c 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 -- evaluation with respect to an area's "portrayal of the environment of a group of people in an historical era." [2] This analysis has also included an update of the numerical count of the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey, specifically assessing the number of remaining contributing and noncontributing structures in the area. Research relevant to the historical development of the- area has also been conducted.[3] RECOMMENDATION It is the HPC Staff's opinion that this area warrants designation as a Local Historic District. The rationale for this recommendation is based on the following conclusion: I. The proposed ,area fulfills the basic criteria relevant to the established of a Local Historic District as mandated by city ordinance and HPC policy; 2. The proposed area fulfills the generally accepted criteria for local historic designation used by this and other commissions; 3. The proposed area contains a.manageable number of structures that could be adequately administered with present staffing