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who is having a "hissy fit" which the Tribune accused the commission of. <br />Though unrelated to the front yard fence, most news coverage has also noted • <br />the deficient maintenance of the streetlights on East Wayne Street. It is, <br />difficult to comprehend how these issues have been associated, but we welcome <br />discussion of the streetlight concern. The Historic Preservation Commission <br />was instrumental in the appointment of a committee addressing historic <br />streetlight concerns in 1990. Mayor Luecke, then representing the Riverside <br />Drive neighborhood in the Common Council, participated as did representatives <br />of East Wayne Street, other historic neighborhoods, American Electric Power, <br />the City Engineer, the Mayor s Office, and the Historic Preservation <br />Commission. This committee studied the issues related to historic streetlights <br />and developed detailed recommendations to address them. <br />These recommendations have been long in coming to fruition. However, 'the <br />Historic Preservation Commission approved a Certificate of Appropriateness in <br />1995 allowing the transfer of ownership of the streetlight system in the <br />Riverside Drive Historic District from American Electric Power to the City and <br />the complete overhaul of that system. Addressing the Riverside Drive system <br />was of special historical priority as George Cutter, the manufacturer of the <br />fixtures employed there, lived on Riverside Drive. This project has been <br />successfully completed. Recently Historic Preservation Commission members have <br />been working with a committee of East Wayne Street residents to initiate the <br />same process there. It is curious that those who were so vociferously quoted <br />in the Tribune about the lighting have not bothered to participate in this <br />process. <br />For nearly a quarter century the Historic Preservation Commission has been <br />integral to planning and code enforcement for South Bend. Among its many <br />services, the commission administers the Certificate of Appropriateness <br />process required by the Municipal Code in the Local Historic Districts where <br />residents have petitioned the City for historical designation and the Common <br />Council has responded by establishing such a district. As in all matters of <br />zoning, the purpose of historic designation is to assure property owners of <br />continuity in the character of development protecting their investment and <br />assuring the maintenance of their desired quality of life. The Historic <br />Preservation Commission not only regulates but assists property owners with <br />technical information and advocacy and serves the general public with research <br />and educational activities. In so doing, the Historic Preservation Commission <br />has the unique responsibility of serving not only its present constituency but <br />also those who have come before and are now gone and generations yet to come. <br />Executive Committee <br />Historic Preservation Commission <br />of South Bend & St. Joseph County <br />John Oxian - President <br />Catherine Hostetler - Vice Pres. <br />J. Edward Talley - Secretary <br />Jerry Weiner - Treasurer <br />David B. Duvall - Director • <br />5/12/97 <br />page 2 <br />