GENE STOWE
Tribune Correspondent
Parkovash Park, with swings and playground equipment, is one of two parks in the neighborhood, with Leeper Park right across the river. Another all-natural grassy swath features both sun-splashed and shady areas.
North Shore Triangle, central to the history of South Bend and numerous multi-generational families, is organizing to protect its traditions and its properties.
Since Samuel Leeper bought the land in 1866 and started selling lots, the stately columned mansions on a rise overlooking the St. Joseph River and the sturdy development that stretches to Angela Boulevard have housed distinguished community leaders.
“I think it’s one of the best neighborhoods in the city,” says State Rep. Ryan Dvorak, who moved in three years ago and whose wife, Angie, is on the neighborhood association board.
“You can walk or ride your bike downtown or to Notre Dame. It’s a great family neighborhood. We’ve got a bike trail that runs in front of our house.”
The association organizes a Halloween party, water stations for the Sunburst that runs down the street, and an alley cleanup.
“There’s block captains now for most of the neighborhood,” Dvorak says. “A lot of the people have lived there a long time — several generations now in some cases.
“When they’re sold, they don’t even go on the market. We bought without it going on the market. We were interested in looking at that area of town.”
Like many neighbors, the recent buyers are making significant improvements to their property.
“We’re planning on doing a big exterior renovation,” Dvorak says. “There are several of those going on on my block. People are interested in their homes. It’s a great neighborhood with a great group of people.”
Tom Broden moved into the neighborhood nearly 40 years ago, and his son John moved in in 1996.
“When we moved in, there was quite a difference,” he says. “At that time, there were still properties that were subdivided into apartments and things like that. The general reputation of the neighborhood was fairly modest.
“That has markedly changed, no question about it, over the last 40 years. I think there’s a rather positive impression of the neighborhood, in general. It was kind of a gradual development.”
John Broden knows several others of his generation who have come home to North Shore Triangle. He lives outside the historic district, designated in 1978, that runs along the river, but the whole area is enjoying renewal.
“I think it’s real interesting that there are a number of families like myself who were raised in the North Shore Triangle and have bought here and are raising their families here,” he says.
“One of the things I love about the neighborhood, especially for our kids, is at various times of the year you have neighborhood gatherings in Parkovash Park.”
Parkovash, with swings and playground equipment, is one of two parks in the neighborhood, with Leeper Park right across the river. Another all-natural grassy swath features both sun-splashed and shady areas.
Some neighbors, worried that the second-oldest structure in the neighborhood — an 1892 farmhouse — could be demolished for modern development, are considering a designation that would prohibit destruction.
The “preservation district” would not have the detailed power of the historic district that oversees smaller changes, but it would require a public hearing before a building could be razed.
“I have been looking at getting a designation of the whole area as a conservation area,” says resident MaryEllen O’Connell. “It seems like a good solution. You don’t have to bring every exterior change to the commission.”
“You can pull down a house from 1892 without any planning or public hearings” in the present situation.
“That is not a good situation to be in. At least the neighbors will have a chance to say.”
O’Connell came four years ago from Columbus, Ohio, where she lived in German Village, the largest historic property district in the United States. She’s hoping to boost the preservation in North Shore. A meeting on June 14 will advance the cause.
“I think we’re moving as a group in the right direction,” she says.
