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STAFF REPORT CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Date: 3/31/2005 Application Number: 2005 -0331 Property Location: 211 N. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN Property Owner: City of South Bend Landmark or District Designation: Rating: 0/13 Morris Performing Arts Center Landmark STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE/HISTORIC CONTEXT Completed in 1922 as the Palace Theatre in the Spanish Renaissance style for the purpose of presenting theatrical plays, operas, concerts, vaudeville acts and amusements, etc. It was converted for sound motion pictures in 1929. The venue experienced financial difficulties and eventually was purchased by the E. M. Moms Foundation in 1959 and then presented to the City of South Bend in that year. In 1960 the Palace Theatre sign was removed along with the Marquee and the building was rededicated in October of 1960 as the Morris Civic Auditorium. APPLICATION ITEMS: To install a new complementary state of the art marquee over the three center sets of doors on the front of the Morris Performing Arts Center which will project 15 feet from the fagade over the sidewalk entrance. The sign is designed by Wagner of Elyria, Ohio and compliments the features of the fagade in style and proportion. The installation will not affect the terracotta of the building as it is being re- installed over the unfinished brick portion of the fagade location for the original Marquee. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval. The Standards and Maintence Committee met on 3/31 at the Moms and reviewed with Dennis Andres the entire scope of the project and the materials to be used and the methods of attachment. The Standards and Maintenance Committee unanimously approved of the project as being appropriate to the building in both style and scale. The Marquee will be an asset to the facility and the Morris' staff and committee members are to be complimented on their selection.