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549 housing however these options have some flaws since the neighborhood wanted to keep 550 the gymnasium and auditorium open to public use. We have set up a modified non-profit 551---- corporation that has been approved by the State and Federal Government to develop a 552 family investment center that will provide high quality child care programs, before and 553 after school programs, a computer learning center and art programs. I want to assure you 554 that there are viable proposals for the re -use of this school building. 555 556 JANET MACIULSKI: I am a resident of River Park and a member of the River 557 Park Neighborhood Association. I have chaired a committee regarding the re -use of Old 558 Nuner School for several years. We have listened to numerous developers and have 559 decided to back Matt Stahl to convert the building into senior housing with community 560 areas, somewhat like the Battell Center. I know people have criticized the idea of 561 children and seniors together, but, the Battell Center has had a lot of success. Our 562 committee believes the building is well worth saving, the feasibility studies and the 563 architects that have been involved have all given proof to this affect. 564 565 DENNIS WHITTAKER: I am president of the River Park Neighborhood 566 Association. Of all the issues we have faced Nuner School has generated the most 567 interested. Janet Maciulski is chair of the Historic Preservation Committee for River 568 Park, which has been in existence for four years. We have tried working with the School 569 Board and have not been successful. The School Board has gone through two iterations 570 of asking for proposals for this building. As far as I know developers submitted at least 571 five different proposals. The proposals were submitted, the deadline came and went with 572 no response from the School Board. The School Board kept changing the rules during 573 the middle of the proposal process. We went through a second iteration with a new 574 proposal. Again we tried to do everything in good faith with them and it just doesn't 575 work. They are the most difficult people we have ever tried to work with. We really 576 want to see the building saved, it is a fine old building that is in good shape despite a 577 couple of years of intentional neglect on the part of the School Corporation. From the 578 Neighborhood Associations stand point there is a lot of miss information circulating, such 579 as, that there is no one interested in the building. Several weeks ago I talked to the police 580 chief, the fire chief and the mayor who expressed an interest in using the facility for 581 training of police and fire crews. I told them we were going to pursue landmark 582 designation of this property and all parties felt this would be fine. The School Board nor 583 the Superintendent would speak with us. This is a fine old building with beautiful 584 architecture and rich history as part of the original town of River Park, which ceased to 585 be a separate town in 1912. 586 587 FRED STUMP: I am the deputy superintendent for administration for the South 588 Bend Community School Corporation. I would like to thank Mr. Oxian for reading the 589 letter that Dr. Raymond wrote, I did bring copies for everyone. Just for the record I 590 believe Mr. Oxian had discussions regarding Nuner and Muessel with my predecessor, 591 because the only conversations I have had with you were on Madison and Monroe. 592 593 JOHN OXIAN: No, we discussed Nuner and Muessel, Mr. Talley and Mr. 594 Jascowitz were there. 13