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page 9 Mr. Oxian then further clarified the format of the hearing. He imposed a 2-3 minute time limit on each speaker, and reserved the right to call on a few selected individuals first. He then called on Mr. David Fritz, president of the NNWNA and owner of two landmark properties within the proposed district. Mr. Fritz distributed pamphlets to the commission members describing the historic merits of the NNW neighborhood. He asked why a way had not been found to grant the MPC staff more review time. Next, he objected to parts of the staff report. The contention that the proposed district lacked "unusual of distinct merit," he said, was elitist. A middle - and working-class neighborhood such as the proposed district might not be unusual or distinct, but the people living there were the ones who "made" South Bend. The neighborhood had developed between 1880 and 1930, South Bend's industrial boom, and still housed the same class of people who built it. The contributions of such people should be recognized and preserved. He said that, while many of the buildings did indeed have ahistorical alterations, imposing a district would help reverse these alterations. He urged the commission members to read through the pamphlet and learn about the significant local families (Muessel, Cushing) associated with the area. Mr. Oxian then opened the floor to all other speeches in favor of the proposal. An unidentified man listed several prominent local families associated with the neighborhood_ The area was, he said, among the oldest communities in South Bend. Failing to preserve it would be "sinful." The owner of 718 Cottage Grove then spoke. He said' his house dated from the late 1800's, and he was fully aware of the restrictions a district might bring. He believed, however, that to declare a district was the only way to save his neighborhood's fast -disappearing historical character. To him, the area represented an important and ongoing middle-class working family tradition. this and other characteristics, made it distinct. Next, Ms. Vicki Fritz voiced her concern that many homeowners in the district misunderstood the petitioners' intentions. The petitioners had no vision, she said, of suddenly and drastically restoring the area to its original state. Rather,