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sometime in the 1980s, which damaged the interior but left the exterior in good shape. In 1987, Pro Sound Music bought and rehabilitated the building and property, but unfortunately, the business did not survive long. Pro Sound's store sign and mural on the north wall call still be seen. Mr. Gendel repurchased the building to use as storage for his store, Fat Daddy's, which is located at 501/503 S. Michigan Street.2 Aside from some remaining traces of fire upon the second -story windows on the south side, the building's structure appears sound and in good condition. Because of its use as storage, it seems that the flat roof is also weather -worthy and leak -proof. Semi-opaque Plexiglas now covers the large glass display windows that were installed probably in 1987. All the alley windows on the south side have been covered and boarded up with asphalt shingles. Because of the tinted and covered windows, staff was unable to gauge the condition of the interior. Behind the original structure, a one-story concrete block addition was recently constructed with a tiled flat roof and rear garage door for shipping and delivery purposes. This garage is assessable by a narrow back alley that is not suitable for public access to the building. Code Enforcement surveyed the building in 1997 and found several violations including: exposed wiring, soggy flooring, infestation, lack of heating and water, and the buildup of trash and fecal materials. Code did not seem to find violations related to the structure and exterior of the building. The major need for rehab would be in the interior if it remains in this condition. Unfortunately, parking is a limited resource for this storefront. To the north of the building exists a grassy side lot where an adjacent building once stood. This lot is. probably too narrow for parking purposes but it could be used as a small park or patio. The purple and yellow colored Expert Tire business stands adjacent to the empty lot on the southwest corner of S. Michigan and Monroe. On -street parking seems to be the most convenient place to leave one's car to enter this building. Parking across S. Michigan could be an option, but because high-speed traffic zooms by in this area, this possibility is highly dangerous for pedestrians. On the opposite side of Michigan Street, one will first walk or more likely drive past Midas Auto Service Experts at 525 S. Michigan. This more recent business does not hold the sidewalk line/frontage line similar to the earlier buildings. Rather, an ample parking lot abuts the property adjacent to Michigan and South Streets. One should note that this parking lot is relatively in good condition and not broken and weedy. Beyond Midas and its parking lot stand three more storefronts from the 1910s and 20s, the historic period of note for this block. They stand in one continuous line and have entranceways that meet any visitors at the sidewalk. 517 S. Michigan (513-515-517-517 %) was built on lot 21 of Martin's Addition possibly prior to 1911, the year in which the Lindahl brothers, Alfred and Gustav, purchased the property for $17,000.3 The brothers bought the property from Abraham Byers, who may have had the building constructed where three earlier residences once stood. The Lindahl's operated a farm implements store in 517-517 and operated a blacksmith and horseshoeing 'shop in the rear of the building with William R Johnson. These men also crafted wagons and buggies in their shop, a trade from which the Studebaker's also originated. Above the store, Lindahl's included two apartments; one which they rented for additional income and the other which housed Alfred Lindahl and his wife, Elsie. The second story also housed the Argyle Hotel during the year 1914-1925. Mrs. Lillian Lowe operated it. This hotel may be one of the few remaining examples of an urban boarding and rooming house in South Bend. This form of rental housing was quite prevalent across the country during the early decades of the century. Many single men found respite, camaraderie, and meals in these rooming houses prior to marriage. Z Historic and Architectural Significance Report, August 1995, 3. 3 -3-