September 27, 2024
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of South Bend and St. Joseph County has passed a resolution in 2024 naming it’s Top Ten Most Endangered Properties. The commissioners have selected properties they feel are most in danger of being lost if action isn’t taken soon.
“The purpose of the Top Ten List is to bring awareness to properties that we are in danger of losing forever,” said Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator. “By bringing these forgotten and overlooked buildings to the spotlight we have the best chance of rallying people to take action and help save these pieces of history before they are gone.”
The Commission passed a resolution at their August meeting naming the following ten properties as the most endangered for 2024:
- South Bend State Bank (911 South Michigan Street): built in 1923; this structure is an established City of South Bend Local Landmark (Ordinance #9079-2000); and sits alone on the quarter block where neighboring structures suffered fires and were demolished.
- Grace Methodist Episcopal Church/St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church (760 South Michigan Street): built in 1915 for the Grace Methodist Episcopal Congregation, it is rated Significant; and is exhibiting deferred maintenance, deteriorating cornice and masonry.
- The Indiana Lumber Company/Bendix Local No. 9 (738 South Michigan Street): owned by built 1928 for the Indiana Lumber Company as a showroom and office. It is the only structure remaining from the complex; and is exhibiting deferred maintenance, water damage and deteriorating masonry.
- The Knights of Columbus (316 West Jefferson Boulevard): the structure stands within the Downtown South Bend Historic Multiple Resource Area (NR-0708.08); built in 1924 and rated Significant, the structure was originally built as the meeting hall of the Knights of Columbus and subsequently used as various night clubs, restaurants and offices; now currently vacant; it is exhibiting deteriorating cornice, masonry, terra cotta and roof.
- Burke Building (1019 South Michigan Street): originally built for Morris Burke in 1928; “Significant-rated” structure housed various businesses on the street level and apartments on the second floor; an established City of South Bend Local Landmark (Ordinance #9081-2000); and exhibiting vacant/unused condition, deteriorating interior structure.
- Cozy Theater/Linden Theatre (1635 Linden Avenue): built in 1926, as a theatre; and exhibiting vacant/unused condition, and deteriorating masonry.
- Carriage House/ (519 1/2 South St. Joseph Street): built 1900 as a coach house and residence; A “Significant Rated” structure within the Taylor’s Field Local Historic District (Ordinance #8952-98); exhibiting vacant/unused condition, structural compromise and deteriorating masonry.
- Greene Elementary School (24702 Roosevelt Road): built in 1929 as a consolidated elementary and high school replacing several smaller schoolhouses; exhibiting vacant/unused condition.
- Twin Branch Power Plant Screening House (13200 Jefferson Road): built in 1925 to screen debris from the intake water used for the steam power generation at the nearby coal power plant; exhibiting vacant/unused condition.
- The State Theater (212-216 South Michigan Street): built in 1919 as the “Blackstone Theater;” listed on the National Register of Historic Places within the Downtown South Bend Historic Multiple Resource Area (NR-0708.03); and exhibiting vacant/unused condition.
To learn more about the Historic Preservation Commission, visit southbendin.gov/hpc