The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County and Indiana Landmarks partnered this year in presenting annual awards recognizing individuals and organizations for rehabilitating and reusing vintage buildings. Guests gathered in the lobby of the former LaSalle Hotel for a reception, where they got the chance to experience the energy of a South Bend landmark that is set to reemerge in the coming months.

Indiana Landmarks presented its Saving Historic Places Award to the City of South Bend and Outstanding Historic Rehabilitation Award to RealAmerica, LLC, for their roles in saving the 1921 LaSalle Hotel. The City bought and mothballed the vacant building in 2004 and searched for a developer to revitalize it. In April 2015, Ronda Shrewsbury Weybright and her team at RealAmerica, LLC, of Fishers, Indiana, bought and rehabbed it as The LaSalle, with 67 apartments and ground-floor commercial space.

Cliff Zenor received the Outstanding Volunteer in Historic Preservation Award from Indiana Landmarks. Zenor spent countless hours assisting in the rehabilitation of 222 Chapin Street in South Bend, and providing his professional expertise as a photographer to capture images used in the Vintage Green series of DIY articles in the South Bend Tribune.

The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County presented its Southhold Preservation Awards, recognizing outstanding preservation and restoration. The Southhold awards are a tribute to the former Southhold Restorations, Inc., a nonprofit organization that existed from 1973-1997 and, on closing, endowed a fund that allows the commission to continue these awards.

The 2016 Southhold Preservation Award for Historic Preservation in the commercial category went to Blackburn & Green for saving the Daniel Ward House, relocated from Cleveland and Gumwood to 1443 University Drive Court in Granger. Tom Nesser received honorable mention for his preservation of the Brown Building at 224 West Colfax.

Dr. David Wyncott and Andy Hoffman won the Southhold award in the residential preservation category for the Cutter House, 916 Riverside Drive.

Buccellato Design, LLC, won the historic restoration award in the commercial category for its transformation of LaSalle State Bank, 526 East LaSalle Avenue. Honorable mention went to South Bend Community School Corporation for its restoration of the cupola at Thomas Jefferson School, 528 South Eddy Street.

The Southhold award in the residential historic restoration category was presented to Mag Mile Properties, LLC for the Marx Buildings, 728-736 Portage Avenue. Three people won honorable mention recognition in this category: Blake Strefling for Hammond House, 610 North St. Joseph; Sheila McCarthy for Stephenson House, 519 South St. Joseph; and Frank Krakowski for the Emil and Anna Johnson Farm, 60717 Locust Road.

In the adaptive reuse category, the Southhold Award went to Paul Kuharic and John Barany for their transformation of Howard Park Hardware and General Store to The General Deli & Café, 609 East Jefferson Boulevard.

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Media contacts: Deb Parcell, Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County, 574-235-9798; dparcell@co.st-joseph.in.us Todd Zeiger, Director, Northern Regional Office, Indiana Landmarks, 574-232-4534, tzeiger@indianalandmarks.org RealAmerica, LLC: Ronda Shrewsbury Weybright, President, 317-815-5929 ex.102; ronda@realamericallc.com City of South Bend: Andre Adeyemi, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, 574-235-9261; aadeyemi@southbendin.gov Cliff Zenor, 574-210-2244; cliffzenor@gmail.com Blackburn & Green: Tom Blackburn, 574-277-7711 Buccellato Design, LLC: Aimee P. C. and Kevin Buccellato, 574-288-7723; inquiry@buccellatodesign.com The General Deli & Café: Paul Kuharic and John Barany, 574-286-4193; thegeneraldeli@yahoo.com

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About the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend & St. Joseph County

The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County was established in 1973, to identify buildings, structures, sites and objects which are architecturally or historically significant. The Commission drafts preservation guidelines and plans, designates local landmarks and historic preservation districts, and administers preservation standards to maintain the character defining features of these structures, districts, and landscapes.  Additionally, the Commission advises other agencies on matters concerning historic sites and structures, and assists and educates the public.

About Indiana Landmarks

Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, reconnects us to heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. Learn more.