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REGULAR MEETINGOCTOBER 8, 2007
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<br />Ms. Karen Gindele 831 Park Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill.
<br />She advised that she comes here tonight with no architectural background, however, her
<br />father was an architect and started out in a very modern Frank Lloyd-Wright mode, he is
<br />now 81 years old. She stated that over the course of his career he became more and more
<br />commitment to historical preservation. This has rub off on her, she renovated an old
<br />house on Park Avenue and while she stated that she doesn’t live in the near vicinity of
<br />Marquette, she has looked at it and one of the things that the criteria doesn’t address is
<br />the amalgam the number and variety of monuments in the City that we need to preserve
<br />as a base, a bottom level and the criteria addresses building by building and not the
<br />overall impact. She thinks that it is really important to preserve as many buildings as
<br />they can. She stated that Marquette has value and should be preserved for that reason.
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<br /> Mr. Don Sporleder, 205 W. Cripe St. South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this bill.
<br />He stated that he is Professor of Architecture Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame,
<br />Member of the American Institute of Architecture, and Principle in Sporleder Architects.
<br />He urged the Council to support the landmarking of this fine facility. Sustainable, it
<br />speaks for itself. He is very happy that the Council will be touring the school, because
<br />the school will clearly send that message and in addition to the strength of the building,
<br />its craftsmanship is a place where children have been involved. He stated that from his
<br />experience in renovation work locally it has great adaptability potential to continue to
<br />serve as a school using the Montessori Program will be an excellent use of a sustainable
<br />building that speaks well to using the City’s resources wisely and involving all in the
<br />community to bring to life that which history has shared so well for all of us. He thanked
<br />the Council and encouraged their support.
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<br /> Rev. Lawrence Michael Grant, 111 E. Oakside, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of
<br />this bill. He noted that the Council has stated in prior meetings that the City is in a
<br />revitalization mode and the best way to do that is to preserve it’s historical landmarks.
<br />He stated that his parents both went to Marquette and he strongly encourages the
<br />Montessori Magnet Pilot Program to be implemented at Marquette. He noted that it is
<br />much cheaper to rehab than to rebuild. Mr. Grant encouraged the Council’s favorable
<br />consideration.
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<br />Ms. Leslie Klusczinski, 617 Park Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, spoke in favor of this
<br />bill. She encouraged the Council to in favor of landmarking Marquette. It has been
<br />proven before with rehabbing old schools such as Madison, Jefferson, and Adams can be
<br />done and they all serve their communities well. She believes Marquette can as well.
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<br />The following individuals spoke in opposition to this bill:
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<br />Dr. Robert Zimmerman, Superintendent, South Bend Community School Corporation,
<br />South Bend, Indiana, thanked the Council for this opportunity to speak regarding Bill 61-
<br />07. He stated that he will be joined in presenting the corporation’s response to this bill by
<br />John Strauss, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Dr. Patricia O’Connor, Assistant
<br />Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
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<br />Dr. Zimmerman advised that Bill 61-07 is written to designate Marquette Primary Center
<br />located at 1905 College Street as a historical landmark. Contrary to the language of the
<br />bill presented to this council, the South Bend Community School Corporation is opposed
<br />to the designation of Marquette Primary Center as a historical landmark. The South Bend
<br />Board of School Trustees has committed to both upgrading all school facilities in the
<br />school district as well as doing what it can to maintain neighborhood schools. In an
<br />effort to fulfill these commitments, the Board has invested over $150 million dollars in
<br />school facilities in the South Bend Community School Corporation is the past ten years.
<br />Major commitments have been made at Riley High School., Adams High School,
<br />Harrison Primary Center, Lincoln Primary Center, Muessel Primary Center, and Nuner
<br />Primary Center. The Board’s fiscal responsibility is to educate our children in the best
<br />possible learning environment. At times, the best decision has been to completely
<br />renovate a facility, such as with Adams High School, Madison Primary Center, and
<br />Jefferson Intermediate Center. At other times, the Board has decided that building a new
<br />facility is more advantageous, such as in the cases of Riley High School, Harrison
<br />Primary Center, Lincoln Primary Center, Muessel Primary Center, and Nuner Primary
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