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47 48 49 B. 2000-0414,218 W. Washington, sign. 50 51 MARK SCHEFFERS: I am Mark Scheffers, a Regional Vice President for Old 52 Kent Bank. I manage the entire Michiana region with an office in the Tower Building. 53 My purpose here is to speak in favor of the sign on the East Fagade. Old Kent feels that a 54 sign on the East side is vital for a new business to the area. We have also noted that eight 55 of the nine banks in downtown South Bend have roof top signage. The signage is also 56 consistent with other Old Kent signs located on other historic buildings in Michigan. 57 58 MIKE ELBODE: I own the Tower Building with Bob Canfield. I have a back 59 ground in architecture and have a great love of the Tower Building and am the most 60 concerned about the impact the Old Kent sign would have on the structure. I was not 61 comfortable with the first sign the bank had suggested because of the stress it would 62 cause to existing cracks and that it would cover up the medallions and other architectural 63 details. I also do not want any more bullet holes in the side of the building that is why I 64 feel that this is a good compromise. It protects the building by doing no damage and 65 allows the bank its much -desired exposure. The solution has three significant factors: 66 one, it minimizes the visual impact on the historical appearance of the building because it 67 floats above the building; two, there is no danger of exacerbating the cracking problem 68 because there will be no contact with the terra cotta; and three, the sign is easily 69 removable. 70 71 I am a strong believer in adaptive reuse. In order to save an historic building it has to 72 work. This is a bank building; it is designed as a bank building and will only work as a 73 bank building. If the building can't be used as a bank the building it will have little or no 74 future. 75 76 JACK VOS: I am Jack Vos from Valley City Sign. I was present in December when 77 the sign applications first came before the Commission. During this meeting the 78 Commission was very clear about its dislike of penetrating the terra cotta. Joann 79 expressed concern over penetrating the wall and that if the sign was going on the building 80 it should have a gothic typeface to match the building. We could not alter the typeface 81 because it is a company logo. However, we believe we have accomplished a new design 82 that meets most of the Commission concerns regarding penetration, damage and the 83 covering of architectural detail. 84 85 CATHERINE HOSTETLER: How is the sign going to be attached to the 86 building? 87 88 JACK VOS: The sign will be supported by metal supports bolted to the roof 89 with nothing being attached to the wall. 90 91 JOANN SPORLEDER: I thought the Commission had acted on this application and 92 that such an action was final. 2