VALPARAISO | An ordinance repealing the historic district designation for the Banta Neighborhood drew only two comments -- one for it and one against it -- at Monday's council meeting.

The council is expected to vote on the repeal at its Feb. 23 meeting.

At the same time, an ordinance will be introduced revamping the current historic district law. It will have an emphasis on single site districts to allow residents petition to have a home declared historic or join with neighbors to have a group included in the district on a voluntary basis.

Charlotte Friedlund, of Locust Street, called the apparent impending repeal of the Banta district, created about two years ago, unfortunate. She compared the criticism it generated among some residents as a Salem which hunt against the city's Historic Preservation Commission.

Friedlund, a retired real estate broker, said the district has divided the neighborhood by having people policing their neighbors. She said people who spoke out in favor of it had their vehicle or property vandalized, and the elderly were "propagandized" against it. She said she didn't come to the meeting held three weeks ago to discuss the district because "it was a lynch mob" of those opposed to it.

Missy Newton, an Erie Street resident and one of the leaders of the opposition, said she was not aware of anyone having property vandalized. She said the majority of the people want the district gone, "and I hope the council will listen to the majority."

City Administrator Bill Hanna said the process being set up under the new historic district ordinance is a lot more complicated. It doesn't abolish the commission -- the target of much of the criticism by district opponents -- but it does abolish the old system in favor of a new one. He said he received several calls and emails from people supporting the single site district concept.

"We are putting into the policy a rental component, so it is more comprehensive than just a historic district," Hanna said.

"We are always looking for ways to strengthen the neighborhoods," Mayor Jon Costas said. "Some of the tools don't work the way we thought they would, and this ordinance has served as a tool for divisiveness. So, we are trying something different, and, hopefully, it will be a better tool."