RM 11-16-79 - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend edevelopment Commission Regular Meeting - November 16, 1979 7. PROGRESIS REPORTS a. continued... Mr. Ted Wasielwski: Well, based on the recent newspaper article, the staff recommendation, we have sent the appli- cation to the State Preservation,Office as of last evening. We have been in contact with the State Preservation Office anc the National Advisory Council has informed us that they arE in the process of starting a letter of inquiry to the Re evelopment Commission concerning the Historical Status of that building. The major reason the building was denied on the original application is that it was not 50 years of age. At this time the building has attained the 50 year ag , so the Advisory Council has said that they would inform you by writing in the next few days that the case is reopen- ed. Since there were federal funds used in the acquisition of the building they will review the project. J would think 6 -8 weeks would be plenty of time.to ascertain that. So in view of Mr. Nimtz's timetable, I think everything will be decided by that time period. By the way, just because the building will be placed on the National Register of Historic Places through and including the W. Washington St eet district, that does not mean that the building co 1d not be demolished at some future date. Ms Auburn: I guess my concern is that if you succeed in doing that and we have an economic albatross around our neck, who's going to take responsibility for that? Is thE Commission willing? Mr. Wasielwski: Well, I would think that the Commission has acted in the good faith of the community, in trying to protect the building. I don't think that the intent here is to cause any economic hardship for the City of South Bend. The intent was trying to stave off the possible qu ck demolition of the building. As you can see we've acted along the lines where we attempt to change in all as- pects to cause anyone any economic hardship up to this po nt. However, when you have economic bids for rehabilita- ti n of the building, and you still talk about demolition, we were left with no choice but.to go ahead and try to save the building as'long as possible. We're not saying that the building cannot be demolished, it could be demolished if it is on the National Register or not. Ms Auburn: Then we've reached some kind of gentlemen's ag eement between your group and our group that if the pr ject is not financially feasible that you will not st nd in the way of destruction of the building? -34-