Two South Bend neighborhoods up for National Register of Historic Places
City of South Bend SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County are set to review two district nominations for National Register of Historic Places listing at its next meeting on Monday.
The National Register recognizes structures or sites of historical, cultural, or architectural significance, and being listed on the National Register creates financial incentives for property owners to continue to preserve their historic properties.
"The Commission identifies architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, sites, and objects, and advocates for their protection and preservation to enhance human and economic welfare while also accommodating development and redevelopment," city officials said. "The Commission is dedicated to preserving the built environment of South Bend and unincorporated St. Joseph County."
The two areas being nominated for the National Register are the Lincoln Way East and North St. Joseph River neighborhoods.
The St. Joe neighborhoods is outlined by North St. Joseph Street and the St. Joseph River on the west and east, and by Marion and Bartlett Streets on the south and north, respectively.
"The North St. Joseph-River Bend Historic District is a three-block area developed by residential developers Hammond & Whitcomb in 1903 on an east bend in the St. Joseph River on South Bend’s near north side," the application for the National Register reads. "The district contains approximately eighty homes of similar scale in styles popular during the early 20th century including Queen Anne, Free Classic, and American Foursquare styles. The district is densely developed with Riverside Drive as the premier street, bending east with and fronting the St. Joseph River’s west bank."
North St. Joseph River neighborhood
The Lincoln Way East neighborhood is roughly bounded by Lincoln Way East on the north, Prinz Court on the south, Miami Street on the west, and just west of Vernon Street on the east.
"The Lincoln Way East Historic District was developed along the south side of Vistula Avenue which follows the south bank of the St. Joseph River," the application states. "Large homes in the district were constructed in Queen Anne, Foursquare, and Craftsman styles between the 1890-1920s, taking advantage of river views and the streetcar line that ran between downtown South Bend and Mishawaka on Vistula, which became part of the Lincoln Highway in 1913."
According to the city, as a Certified Local Government, the commission is responsible for reviewing National Register nominations on behalf of the federal government.
National Register listing requires a nomination be reviewed at the local level by the Commission, at the state level by the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board, and at the federal level by the National Park Service and the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places.
The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the County-City Building on Nov. 18.