12.15.2025 HPC Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION A/community planning and development as the district's development was closely tied to the platting of Shetterly's Third Addition in 1891 and the Portage Park subdivision in 1902. These plans emphasized scenic qualities, with Riverside Drive designed to overlook the river and include green spaces such as Shetterly Park. The area benefited from proximity to downtown, streetcar access, and restrictions that maintained its middle- and upper -middle-class character. Prominent local architects, including W.W. Schneider, Ernest W. Young, and N. Roy Schambleau, designed several homes, contributing to the district's architectural diversity and prestige. Additionally, community planning efforts integrated the district into South Bend's broader park and boulevard system, championed by landscape architect George E. Kessler in 1912. Parks like Shetterly and Brownfield (formerly Angela Park) provided recreational amenities and enhanced the neighborhood's appeal. The district also qualifies under the multiple properties documentation form: Historic Residential Suburbs in the U.S., 1830-1960. The Woodward -Riverside Historic District's main plat, Portage Park Subdivision, was recorded in 1902 with residential lots marketed for suburban living outside of South Bend's more urban core of the i 9th century. Therefore, the district qualifies under the sub -type of the MPDF: Early Automobile Suburbs: 1908 to 1945. Staff finds the application makes a good case for nomination through its research and documentation along with supporting materials Staff Comments: Staff have evaluated the submitted nomination according to procedures, policies, standards, and criteria established by the National Park Service and the Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology pursuant to Certified Local Government and applicable federal regulations. The contextual development, format, supplementary documentation, and information presented are considered accurate and appropriately executed. Staff have also determined that the Woodward -Riverside Historic District meets the applicable criteria as defined in this review and considers the area, as delineated by the justified boundaries, to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Public officials and interested parties have been notified by letter of the pending nomination. All have been given the opportunity to provide the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County with written comments or objections. To date, no submissions have been presented. Staff Recommendation: It is recommended that the Historic Preservation Commission concur with staff that the district meets the criteria for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. Staff requests that the Commission direct staff to submit the appropriate report of the public hearing, including public comments, to Mayor James Mueller for his concurrence, in compliance with Indiana's Certified Local Government regulations. The Certified Local Government Report on the Nomination of the Woodward -Riverside Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places will then be forwarded to the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology for further review, followed by consideration of the nomination by the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board. Page 14 November 17, 2025