Lowell Heights-Olivet African Methodist Episcopal Church_Staff Report

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CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF REPORT ON THE NOMINATION OF LOWELL HEIGHTS - OLIVET AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES HISTORIC NAME OF PROPERTY: Lowell Heights Methodist Episcopal Church ADDRESS: 719 North Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, Indiana 46617 BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: Beginning on the northwest corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Almond Court, face west and follow a line with the north side of Almond Court approximately 111’ to the southwest corner of the property at 719 Notre Dame Avenue. Turn north and follow a line 112’ to the northwest corner of 719 Notre Dame Avenue, then turn east and follow a line 111’ to the west side of Notre Dame Avenue. Turn north and follow a line with the west side of Notre Dame Avenue approximately 112’ to its intersection with Almond Court, or the place of beginning. The property is generally identified as Lots 2, 3, and 4, of W. A. Bugbee’s 1st Addition and includes the east half of a vacated alley along the west side of the property. DATE OF STAFF REVIEW: September 21, 2020 CASE HISTORY: A determination of eligibility was conveyed in January 2020. Kurt West Garner, on behalf of the owner, Olivet A.M.E. Church, submitted a nomination for listing of the Lowell Heights Methodist Episcopal Church located in South Bend, Indiana, to the National Register of Historic Places to the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County on May 27, 2020. In preliminary staff review of the submission, and following comments and remarks at the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on September 21, 2020, staff recommended to Mr. Garner that additional consideration be given to inclusion of Olivet A.M.E. in the historic name of the site as well as nomination of the site under Criteria A and C to recognize the cultural impact of the congregation as well as the architectural importance of the building. Mr Garner submitted a revised nomination. The nomination has been reviewed by staff and is formally submitted for public hearing at the October 19, 2020 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION: In order to be considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register, an historic property should be at least 50 years old and must possess local, state, or national significance in relation to at least one of the following criteria: Criterion A is associated with the events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or Criterion B is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or Criterion C embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction; or Criterion D has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures which have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties commemorative in nature, and properties which have received significance within the last 50 years, shall not be considered eligible for the National Register. However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of historic districts which meet the criteria or if they fall within the categories established by the National Park Service as Criteria Consideration/Exemptions.