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Exhibit E Douglas Anderson 1733 Stocker Place South Bend, Indiana 46528 doug@douglasanderson.net 574-210-0877 July 31, 2017 Historical Preservation Commission of St. Joseph County County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601 Dear Historical Preservation Commission of St. Joseph County, I am writing in support of the South Bend Community School Corporation's submission for appropriateness to demolish the old Marquette School located at 1905 College Street. I have been a resident of the northwest neighborhood for over 27 years, Marquette Park for the last 10, have attended the "old" Marquette during my elementary studies and have two children currently enrolled in the Marquette Primary Montessori Academy. My family and I have been committed to South Bend, its public schools and the Marquette neighborhood out of choice; a choice to invest and grow in the community we love and value, a choice to show our children and our family the benefits of urban and diverse lifestyle. It is for these reasons I offer that my support and perspective an this matter is not inconsequential. The actions taken by the SBCSC and the HPC on this matter directly impact the education and safety of my children, the morale and vibrancy of my neighborhood and the values of my neighbors and my own properties. I value the actions of the HPC to offer protection for my community in regards to its historical assets. I also recognize the numerous renovation projects the SBCSC has executed successfully to keep highly functioning and modern school buildings while still honoring the historical heritage they present and fiduciary responsibility to tax payers. I believe that the SBCSC has executed a thorough due -diligence to find a practical use to the "old" building; however time has made it apparent that neither the SCBSC nor the private sector have found viable functional uses for the facility. Therefore it is in my opinion that the building needs to be razed before it becomes a permanent scar on the neighborhood. I have seen far too many empty buildings fall into a state of blight simply because they go unutilized. A building out of service attracts much negative attention and nuisance. As a taxpayer I recognize that the SBCSC has done much more than other property owners to keep the building secure, safe and minimize the negative appearance of the building. However all would question if this is an appropriate way for a public entity with the primary purpose of educating our youth to be spending its precious resources. I thank the HPC for its shepherding of the "old" Marquette during its transition out of service as a learning facility, however I now ask for the HPCs support of the returning the land to a highly functional use as community green space and learning space for the students of the MPMA as per the plans drafted by the SBCSC. Sincerely, 1' Douglas Anderson