COA APPLICATION #2020-0302: NORTHERN INDIANA HISTORIC SOCIETY INC. V. SOUTH BEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

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comfortable to visit. If it was on the museum's grounds, he would visit it. Where the cabin is at currently, he is afraid that it would get burned to the ground like the Powell Cabin. Moving the cabin will offer the whole community to see it. Dan Tychonovich, 54548 White Tail Drive — My Tychonovich identified himself as the President of the Board of The History Museum and stated that he supports moving the cabin. The Northern Indiana Historical Society is the perfect organization to provide the context of the cabin. He stated they hosted a very successful exhibit, "Dressing Downton" based upon the Downton Abbey TV show. People traveled to South Bend to see this exhibit. My Tychonovich indicated that he did not grow up here, but has talked to people who did grow up here, and people didn't often know about the Navarre Cabin outside of those who had kids who attended Cabin Days. People did know about the Duck Pond, which was removed based upon best practices and purpose. He stated that the Northern Indiana Historical Society will take care of this structure. Administrator Feasel read into record the following six letters in support of the move the cabin: John Martinez, Venues Parks & Arts — "Venues Parks & Arts asks that you please review the attached COA on behalf of relocating the Pierre Navane Cabin to the South Bend History Museum's campus. While the current occupancy of the cabin is in our beautiful Leeper Park, VPA believes that greater educational opportunities and care for this unique cultural asset can be found on the campus of the History Museum. In its current location, VPA does not assume any maintenance nor programmatic responsibilities for the cabin and has no plans for it in the future. These responsibilities have been maintained by the History Museum up until this date. Our support comes with the understanding that VPA is not the current owner nor has VPA initiated the move. In alignment with our strategic values of creating memorable and innovative experiences for all South Bend residents, we feel that the relocation of the cabin will only serve to increase positive exposure of this asset to the community. We fully support the proposed relocation and plans of the Museum to increase educational and maintenance opportunities that can be cultivated in the cabin's new home. This support comes with the understanding and agreement between VPA and the History Museum that any damages and landscape remediation caused by the relocation will be covered and performed solely by the History Museum and their contractors. This is currently being engineered through VPA staff and Lehman & Lehman. Thank you for your consideration, John Martinez, Director, Facilities & Grounds." Jo M. Broden, 201 West North Shore Drive — "I support the plan to move the Navarre cabin. I think there will be opportunities for more educational and experiential programming in the future if located in close proximity to the Center for History (a clear community benefit). I also think the preservation prospects of the structure itself will be enhanced as it comes under the close and daily oversight, care and maintenance of dedicated and skilled museum staff. Additionally, in light of the historic flooding which we have experienced in Leeper Park and the likelihood of even more heavy rain or flood events in the future, a move now is timely. I would, however, request the installation (at the new location) of a map and info kiosk that denotes the true historical location(s) of the cabin. Additionally, some creative pavement, stone or brick work could similarly suggest the St. Joseph river's significance to those earlier sitings. It may also assuage others sense of loss of this asset from the neighborhood if a historical marker could be located at the site from where the cabin will be removed (that is, at its current location). Overall, I think Leeper Park's loss of the Navarre Cabin could be a clear community gain now and for posterity- as long as we find a way to celebrate its location history at both the new and current location." Todd Cummings, Ph.D, South Bend Community School Corporation -- "Dear Friends, I was fortunate enough to join the South Bend community at a time when our city was making tremendous strides in reframing its identity. Among those were major efforts to allow our city to continue