|
CITY OF SOUTH BEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
<br />coming in, they're taking care of that. They are immigrating to the west side,
<br />just like my family did and I believe that we need to afford them the opportunity
<br />to keep this church up for that next wave that comes in. I don't know what the
<br />next wave of immigrants may be, but I have a feeling they're going to be
<br />coming to the west side. So I'm just very honored that they asked me to come
<br />and talk on their behalf.
<br />As the representative from that area, I can tell you the church is well used and
<br />well attended and it is just an anchor for that community. Myself, speaking from
<br />putting my Council hat on, I would love to see a way to tie this into the Western
<br />Avenue corridor and really develop that neighborhood into a very meaningful
<br />place. There's no neighborhood association currently. Don contacted me about
<br />that and I believe we're going to start working on that, but it's just such a
<br />meaningful place and gathering place for so many people. You have the center
<br />for Mexican culture there. That has a very large congregation, I believe it's over
<br />1000 people, so it's very well attended, it's very well supported. So anything
<br />that you can do to help get this application processed through, I would really
<br />appreciate. It is just such a wonderful place, it is truly historic and I'm just proud
<br />to be up here to say how much I support their project. 10 million dollars is very
<br />ambitious, probably will need more at some point, but I believe once they get
<br />going, in their campaign and get everything established, one thing at a time,
<br />that this will be obtainable for them to reach."
<br />Commissioner Andrews: "Thank you so much. Would anyone else like to
<br />speak?
<br />Greg Kil with Kil Architecture and Planning Studio, 1126 Lincolnway East, South
<br />Bend, IN:
<br />"I'm originally from the west side and it is an honor, and with humility, that we
<br />have accepted the commission to study the church, but the request in front of
<br />you is for the complex of buildings at St Adalbert's Parish and I'll touch on our
<br />familiarity with the school building. We did a study of the school, I think back in
<br />2005 of some improvements. Funding wasn't available for all of that, but that
<br />plan is in place for some accessibility upgrades, a possible addition to the west
<br />side of the building, there was a fellowship hall that was, I think, destroyed by
<br />fire, I believe, at one point years ago. The school, now with its population and
<br />census at a high level compared to a number of years ago is significant. The
<br />Hispanic population and the members of the congregation there is significant,
<br />but in terms of the architecture, I think it's important to note that the building,
<br />from our initial assessment, which we've done, just started our field work and a
<br />draft will be providing to the building committee before the end of the month is
<br />that structurally in very good shape, but like any building that's approaching
<br />100 years old need maintenance and we're only stewards. It's exciting to see
<br />the focus and the effort by the members of the parish and by the diocese and
<br />with the Bishop's support, and I believe the community support to develop a
<br />plan for rehabilitation and restoration of the building for its next 100 years."
<br />Commissioner Andrews: "Fantastic. Thank you. Any questions from the
<br />Commissioners? Alright. Thank you so much."
<br />Todd Zeiger, with Indiana Landmarks, 801 W Washington, South Bend, IN:
<br />"I'll be brief. Just wanted to add our support to this. It has been a pleasure to
<br />work with this group. I spend a lot of time traveling around in my region and
<br />looking at a lot of old churches and it becomes fairly apparent pretty quickly
<br />which ones are the congregations have legs that will take whatever energy and
<br />move forward and which ones won't, and this one clearly was one of those
<br />who, if with advice council, will run with that and they have, as Don mentioned,
<br />they're part of our sacred places Indiana program, which seeks to help build
<br />Page 15
<br />
|