Council committee backs narrowing historic landmark to Jefferson School building

The Community Investment Committee recommended a change to the city's historic landmark designation for the Jefferson Intermediate School on Aug. 25, sending Bill 48-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation.

The amendment would revise the legal description of the existing landmark so the historic designation covers the immediate area around the Jefferson School building only, rather than the entire parcel. Ross Van Overberg, Historic Preservation Administrator, told the committee staff believes the original February designation used the entire parcel's legal description for convenience and that the intent had been to protect the school building itself.

The change was brought by the South Bend Community School Corporation. Joseph Summers, executive director of facilities management for the South Bend Community School Corporation, and other district representatives said the corporation is requesting the more precise boundary so it can complete improvements to other buildings on the site that are not the Jefferson School Building. Summers gave the corporation's street address as 737 W. Beale St., South Bend.

Committee members raised no objections during the public hearing; no members of the public spoke for or against the bill. A motion to forward Bill 48-25 with a favorable recommendation passed on a roll-call vote. The committee chair said the bill will go to the full council meeting at 7 p.m. with a favorable recommendation.

Why it matters: City staff and the school corporation said the narrower legal description will make clear which structures are covered by historic-preservation controls and which are not, allowing the district to pursue maintenance and upgrades to non-historic buildings on the same parcel while preserving the school building.