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this regard is equivalent historically to all of the city's <br />schools constructed in the twentieth century. <br />Riley's place in.the built -environment .is of similar status -- it <br />is a good example of its type but with no unusual characteristics <br />in relation to others in the city. Madison Elementary School (804 <br />N. Lafayette) and, especially, Monroe Elementary School (312 E. <br />Donmoyer) are both better examples of the Collegiate Gothic style <br />-- mainly because they have undergone fewer alterations. Of the <br />three, Monroe might be the building best suited to being first <br />targeted to be protected by landmark status. It is an unusually <br />ornate and intact Collegiate Gothic structure; it is the primary <br />example in the city. <br />However, Riley is certainly significant as an important element <br />of its immediate built -environment. Its size and placement <br />adjacent to the Studebaker Golf Course make it an important focal <br />point for the neighborhood. Its demolition, or further defacement <br />of its historical facade, would do irreparable harm to the <br />general environment, or subjective "feel," of the neighborhood. <br />The structure provides an element of grace and beauty that would <br />not be easily replaced. <br />In addition, Riley's historical role as the center of secondary <br />education on the city's southeast side makes it an important <br />element in the social and cultural development of this section of <br />the city. Residents have been graduating from high school here <br />since 1931; the school has served four generations of students; <br />both are important reasons why its possible demolition evokes <br />strong emotional reactions. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Riley High School is deserving of protection and preservation -- <br />it is one of many school structures in the city that were <br />constructed of substantial materials, were intended to be <br />up-to-date educational facilities and were designed with a high <br />regard for aesthetics. The building could easily remain useful <br />into the future; landmark designation would in no way impede <br />future exterior additions or interior renovations and would help <br />ensure that the significant portion of the building -- its facade <br />-- would remain as an attractive element of the streetscape. <br />in addition, destruction of a large structure such as this should <br />be discouraged for environmental reasons in addition to cultural <br />and historical concerns. Demolition of this building would only <br />serve to further degrade the environment by adding to landfill <br />overuse. It would be a waste of raw materials -- both those in <br />the building and those needed to build a replacement -- to allow <br />the demolition of a structure that continues to serve useful <br />purposes now and, with the proper care, into the future. <br />The HPC cannot control the use of buildings owned by other <br />government bodies even if landmarked; the School Corporation has <br />an agenda, for instance, that has nothing to do with the <br />preservation of its collection of historic buildings. I suggest a <br />comprehensive study be undertaken that would assess the city's <br />entire collection of historic school_ structures, to be followed <br />by a objective plan for landmarking such buildings in a <br />oil <br />■ <br />