HOBART | The city's downtown district is poised to receive final historic designation Wednesday, City Planner Sergio Mendoza said.

Those historic buildings, including commercial and residential structures used for commercial purposes, include three examples that could qualify for the national registrar.

"It's a nice collection given the boundaries that have been set," Mendoza said.

The Hobart Historic Preservation Commission met last week to adopt new rules and regulations and adopt a map outlining the new district.

Those rules and the map must next be approved by the City Council, which meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.

If the City Council grants approval, then city officials can go forward on a case-by-case basis.

People who own buildings designated in the district will need to go to the city's Building Department and apply for a certificate of appropriateness before making any changes.

The applicant would next go before the Hobart Historical Preservation Commission, which is there to lend support and not dictate choices by the owner, Mendoza said.

"We let people choose what they want, but if it's not appropriate we will advise them," he said.

Packets of information also are available for applicants.

The boundaries for the historic district include everything west of Deep River, east of Lake George and north of the railroad tracks.

About 115 buildings in the downtown qualify for historic designation, according to Tiffany Tolbert.

Tolbert serves as Calumet Region director for the Historic Foundation of Indiana and administrator for the Hobart Historic Preservation Commission.

The three buildings designated as outstanding to merit listing on the national registrar include the First Unitarian Church, 497 Main St.; the Roper Building, 237 Main St.; and the Rifenburg House, 139 Center St.

Architectural styles run the gamut and include Queen Ann, Italian and Dutch colonial.

"We've got very eclectic uses, including residential, government and commercial," Mendoza said.