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Standard criteria also suggest designating groups of structures that are " associated with significant people, .local or. otherwise."[12] This neighborhood from the beginning has been ssociated with significant local individuals. Among them are'the developers mentioned ove -- Whitcomb and Hammond who constructed several of the houses for sale. In addition,_ e neighborhood was home to numerous professionals and businessmen and craftsmen including a dentist, music teacher at Notre Dame, grocer, and dairy superintendent. Most interesting is- the predominance of construction professionals as residents. These included Christian Soens, contractor and brick manufacturer; George Hoffman, a carpentry contractor; and Andrew Jorgensen, mason. The Jorgensen house which is slated to be moved into the district from the west.side.of the street is an excellent example of an Arts and .Crafts Movement house. Both Jorgensen and Hoffman presumably constructed their own homes. Soens was the owner -operator of the last brick -yard in the city of South Bend. Overall, as,with any local historic neighborhood, it is the neighborhood's "portrayal" of the era that is most relevant in determining its significance. For "North St. Joseph Street," it is its consistency over time as a middle-class residential area and its retention of the original material culture and character of the place that make it a good example for understanding local historical and cultural deve.lopment.- Conclusion #3 The -area presently is made up of 12 houses (or doubles) and ancillary structures. The most recently published (1993) Indiana Sites and Structures Inventory identified 5 contributing structures within these proposed boundaries, approximately 409 of the total. 'However 1009 of the properties are over 50 years of age and therefore potentially contributing after rehabilitation. It should be noted in this regard that as part of its rehabilitation project, NNN -is rehabilitating its properties in accordance with the proposed guidelines. Presuming the addition of these project properties to the =ontributing list,. the area will list 9 contributing properties (759). This includes one =uilding slated to be relocated across the street from its present location. As a whole the area retains sufficient numbers of contributing structures in close enough. proximity, to warrant designation. In addition, all of structures now considered as noncontributing could be restored to their original appearance with minimal rehabilitation, if the owners so desired. Conclusion #4 The application by NNN represented 759 of the properties in this area presenting a compelling case for the feasible rehabilitation of this area. Initial interest by the, applicants in the River Bend Local Historic District standards demonstrates that they understand the implication of preservation standards of this area and the negotiation of standards to administer the District as the residents see fit. The HPC agrees with this owner that their neighborhood is worthy of preservation both as a historic entity and as a viable residential area that is in need of help if it is to survive into the future. David B. Duvall, Director