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MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE <br />HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION <br />OF SOUTH BEND & SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY <br />May 5, 2006 <br />HPC Offices, South Bend <br />125 S. Lafayette Blva,1" Floor <br />Members Present: Lynn Patrick [President], Todd Zeiger [Vice -President], Mary Jane Chase [Secretary], <br />Timothy. Klusczinski [Treasurer], Catherine Hostetler, Martha Choitz, Diane Wrobel-Illes <br />Members Absent: Jerry Ujdak, Joann Sporleder <br />Staff Present: Catherine Hostetler [Director], Julie Schutte [Assistant Director], Shawn Peterson [Counsel] <br />I. CALL TO ORDER: Lynn Patrick called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm. <br />II. LANDMARK — FIRST READING & INTERIM PROTECTION —1013 E. JEFFERSON <br />Current photos of 1013 E. Jefferson were passed around to the Commission members [Exhibit 1] and <br />Catherine Hostetler described the significance of the property. The house was built in 1907 for Harry <br />Johnson, the grandson of J. M. Studebaker, as a wedding present. Ennis Austin, a prominent South Bend <br />architect, designed the residence for the new family. The house was also rated Significant/12 in the South <br />Bend survey. Julie Schutte noted that the property is located in the Howard Park National Register <br />District, two houses from another landmark. <br />Catherine briefly described the situation that currently threatens the residence. A law practice located <br />next to 1013 E. Jefferson would like to purchase the house in order to demolish it for parking. Their <br />bonded agent, Kenny Kent, notified the building department of his client's desire to demolish the <br />building. He is the agent for the seller, TCU, and the attorneys. The sale to the attorneys depends on the <br />demolition of the residence. However, another serious buyer has submitted a bona fide counteroffer <br />directly to the bank after some anomalies with Remax and the bank. She would like to purchase the <br />building to rehab it. <br />The Commission then considered if the building was architecturally and/or historically significant to <br />proceed with interim protection and landmark status. Todd Zeiger reiterated that is does meet the criteria <br />as the residence is rated S/12, is located in a National Register Historic District, was designed by a noted <br />South Bend architect, and is connected to the Studebaker family. <br />Lynn Patrick: I moved to accept the following findings of fact regarding 1013 E. Jefferson Blvd, the <br />Studebaker — Johnson House and to place the structure under interim protection. The Studebaker — <br />Johnson House located at 1013 E. Jefferson fulfills the three criteria for landmark status and should be <br />placed under interim protection for six months or until landmark status is granted or denied by the <br />Common Council. It fulfills the three criteria for landmark status: 1.) It is architecturally/historically <br />important and connected to the development of the area because it was designed by Ennis Austin for <br />Harry D. Johnson, Jr., the eldest grandson of J. M. Studebaker and a master mechanic at the Studebaker <br />Corp; 2.) Its educational value as an architecturally significant home owned by a member of the <br />prominent Studebaker family; and 3.) Its suitability for preservation because it is rated significant/notable <br />in the South Bend survey and was designed by Ennis Austin in 1907 for Mr. Johnson. Ennis Austin was a <br />partner for the prominent architectural firm of Austin and Shambleau. Diane Wrobel-Illes: Second. <br />Lynn asked for discussion on the motion. There was none. Lynn asked for public comment. There was <br />none. She asked for a vote: the motion on the floor passed 7-0 all in favor. <br />III. ADJOURNMENT <br />No other matters were discussed. Todd Zeiger moved to adjourn and Martha Choitz seconded the motion. <br />All were in favor and the meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. <br />