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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWoodward-Riverside HD_Staff ReportSTAFF REPORT ON THE NOMINATION OF WOODWARD-RIVERSIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES HISTORIC NAME OF PROPERTY: Woodward-Riverside Historic District BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: Beginning at the intersection of Angela Boulevard and east side of Woodward Avenue, at the south curbline of Angela Avenue, face northeast and follow the curbline of Angela Boulevard, crossing Riverside Drive to the riverbank of the St. Joseph River. Follow the riverbank in a south/southeasterly direction to a line extended north from the west curbline of Riverside Drive as it turns south and becomes Leland Avenue. Face south and follow the line, crossing Riverside Drive, to the northeast edge of the alley between Riverside Drive and Woodward Avenue. Turn northwest and follow the northeast edge of the alley to the north curbline of Golden Avenue. At the north curbline of Golden Avenue, face southwest and follow the curbline to the east side of the alley between Riverside Drive and Woodward Avenue. Turn northwest and follow the east edge of the alley to the north curbline of Vassar Avenue. Face southwest and follow the north curbline of Vassar Avenue, crossing Woodward Avenue, to the east side of the alley between Woodward Avenue and Portage Avenue. Turn northwest and follow the east side of the alley, crossing Yukon and Hudson Avenues, to the south curbline of Angela Boulevard. Turn northeast and follow the south curbline of Angela Boulevard to the east side of Woodward Avenue, or the place of beginning. DATE OF STAFF REVIEW: December 8, 2025 CASE HISTORY: Historic Preservation Administrator Ross Van Overberghe identified the Woodward-Riverside Historic District as a National Register-eligible area when conducting CLG reporting requirements for the Indiana State Department of Natural Resources. Further meetings, correspondence, and consultations regarding the nomination process and paperwork occurred in early 2025 with consulting bodies. The City of South Bend requisitioned money to hire consultant Mr. Kurt Garner to write the formal nomination. Mr. Garner submitted a nomination for the listing of the Woodward-Riverside Historic District to the Staff of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County on October 29, 2025. The nomination has been reviewed by staff and is formally submitted for public hearing at the December 15, 2025, Historic Preservation Commission meeting. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION: In order to be considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register, an historic property should be at least 50 years old and must possess local, state, or national significance in relation to at least one of the following criteria: Criterion A is associated with the events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or Criterion B is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or Criterion C embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction; or Criterion D has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures which have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties commemorative in nature, and properties which have received significance within the last 50 years, shall not be considered eligible for the National Register. However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of historic districts which meet the criteria or if they fall within the categories established by the National Park Service as Criteria Consideration/Exemptions. EVALUATION OF THE NOMINATION: Staff have reviewed the nomination and associated materials as provided by Kurt West Garner. The application for the Woodward-Riverside Historic District in South Bend, Indiana, is applicable for Criteria A and C. Criteria A is met for association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Criteria C is met for embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possessing high artistic values, or representing a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. The Woodward-Riverside Historic District in South Bend, Indiana, is a significant example of early 20th-century suburban development along the St. Joseph River. Composed primarily of homes built between 1902 and 1926, the district qualifies under criterion C/architecture, showcasing a variety of architectural styles, with the American Foursquare being the most prevalent, accounting for nearly 40% of the homes. These two-story, hipped-roof houses often incorporate elements of Colonial Revival, Prairie Style, or Craftsman design. Other notable styles include Queen Anne, which represents about 20% of the homes, as well as Craftsman-Bungalow, Prairie, Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial, and Tudor Revival, reflecting evolving architectural trends during this period. The district is also notable under criterion 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 19th 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 Woodwrad-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.