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v she wanted to know what new responsibilities the district would create for landlords. Mr. Chuck Watson of 511 Riverside Drive said he was also confused. He said he had received a letter from an attorney warning him that a district would mean severe restrictions on all exterior home repair, including painting. He wanted to know the true scope of these restrictions; he also wanted to know the probable impact on property values. Ms. Linda Fritschner of 621 E. Riverside Drive spoke of the neighborhood's importance to the vitality of downtown South Bend. Mr. Bruce Wood of 225 E. Navarre said he had spent the last 20 years working to preserve inner-city neighborhoods. He said that, recently, 6-8 homes in the area east of Michigan Street had been destroyed. Apx. 18 months before, the zoning had been changed to "commercial" in the block immediately east of Michigan Street. Commercial encroachment was therefore a real and long-established threat. Establishing the River Bend district would be a significant effort to preserve South Bend's inner city neighborhoods. Ms. Sandi Schohl of 527 Riverside Drive said that River Bend was a good neighborhood; it was conveniently close to downtown and was a good place to raise children. However, erosion was becoming increasingly evident; and the more the area ran down, the greater the danger of acquisition by Memorial Hospital. Mr. Tony,Zappia, an attorney hired by neighborhood resident Gene Forsyth, then presented a case against the proposal. Mr. Forsyth, he said, owned 15 properties in the River Bend neighborhood. He claimed that, should a vote be taken allowing one vote for each property in the area (instead of one vote for each owner) the majority would oppose the district. He then said that the area did not qualify historically/culturally. He said most of the residents did not know what level of standards would be applied to the district. He believed that the more stringent "rehabilitative" standards would be applied. Most of those supporting the district, he claimed, did not know the significance of the "rehabilitative" designation. It was his understanding that rehabilitation standards were very strict. He then read excerpts from the comprehensive