Historic Preservation Commission Celebrates Progress on 2023 Top Ten Most Endangered List

September 19, 2024

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of South Bend and St. Joseph County has passed a resolution in 2023 naming it’s Top Ten Most Endangered Properties. As the commission nears the release of its Top Ten Most Endangered for 2024, they celebrate the progress that has been made to several properties on the 2023 list. 

“It’s exciting to see so many of the endangered properties making progress toward being saved,” said Ross Van Overberghe, Historic Preservation Administrator. “The goal of the Top Ten Most Endangered Properties list is to bring awareness to the public about these structures that we may lose. If just one gets saved from demolition, it’s a success.”

Updates for the properties on the 2023 Top Ten Most Endangered List are as follows:

1. The City Cemetery Gate and Sexton’s Cottage (214 Elm Street): A request for proposal was sent out in July 2024 and a grant is being applied for to help fund the restoration of the Gate.
2. The State Theater (212-216 South Michigan Street): No change.
3. The South Bend Tribune Building (225 West Colfax Avenue):Purchased by the University of Notre Dame, the University was awarded a $30 M Lilly Endowment to support a planned tech and talent Hub.
4. The Pierre Navarre Cabin (Leeper Park): Moved to the History Museum’s Campus in May 2024. Plans for a new roof are underway.
5. The People’s Church (302 West Washington Avenue): As of July 2024, the exterior trim work was painted, and windows repaired. The interior was cleaned up and prepared for use as a place of worship.
6. The Birdsell Mansion (511 West Colfax Avenue): Painting and window restoration began in July 2024.
7. The Studebaker Administration Building (635 South Main Street) Restoration and replacement of the windows was approved by the Historic Preservation Commission in May 2024.
8. The ‘Old’ Marquette School (1905 College Avenue): United Way is considering purchasing the building and renovating it to be a community center.
9. Portage Manor (3016 Portage Avenue): No change.
10. The Pleasant View School (65014 State Road 931): Due to a legal impasse over an easement for electric utilities lines and the prohibitive cost of moving the unstable structure, The Historic Preservation Commission approved the deconstruction of the building in July 2024.

To learn more about the Historic Preservation Commission, visit southbendin.gov/hpc