The South Bend Common Council voted unanimously Aug. 25 to amend the historic landmark designation for the Jefferson School parcel at 528 South Eddy Street so the legal description covers just the school building rather than the entire parcel.

Ross VanOverberg, historic preservation administrator, told the council the existing ordinance used a legal description that encompassed the school building, maintenance building, parking lot and athletic fields; the amendment “right‑sizes” that description so routine maintenance and repairs outside the school building can proceed without historic‑review delays.

Joseph Summers, executive director of facilities and management for the South Bend Community School Corporation, said the Facilities Maintenance Building has windows that conflict with the current ordinance language and that the school corporation needs the narrower legal description to replace or upgrade those windows without triggering the full landmark review process for unrelated buildings on the parcel. Summers and the school’s legal counsel said the change would preserve the Jefferson School’s historic building designation while easing administrative burdens on the district’s ability to maintain other facilities.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the ordinance language and acreage referenced in section 2; staff explained the amendment limits the protected legal description to the school structure and excludes the maintenance building, ballfields and parking areas. The council approved Bill 48‑25 by roll call (9 ayes).