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the following reasons: <br />--as the center of the Studebaker firm's management <br />and social activities in the 20th century <br />--as an important landmark in the city's built <br />environment <br />--as a structure designed by Solon Beman, one of the <br />Midwest's most influential 19th -century architects <br />= as—a=l-oca-1—examp 1 e- of - Renai ssance-rev-i-va ] --influenced <br />architecture <br />The building had been continuously occupied by the <br />Studebaker firm from its construction 1908-9 until <br />1965. Since 1970, it had served as administrative <br />offices for the South Bend School Corporations. The <br />School Corporation's future plans for the building <br />were unknown. <br />Mr. Holycross concluded his summary by saying that the <br />building, rated as significant on the Indiana Historic <br />Sites and Structures Inventory, deserved landmark <br />status. To begin the landmark designation process <br />would be an opportunity to educate/inform the <br />community of the building's significance. It was the <br />staff's opinion that the HPC should also ask the <br />Common Council to support an effort to have the <br />structure placed on the National Register of Historic <br />Places. <br />_ _- _..-This concluded the summary. Mr. Oxian then opened the <br />issue to public debate. <br />Mr. Sriver, Superintendent of Schools, spoke first. <br />He described the situation as "difficult" because he <br />understood the urge to preserve some of the past. <br />However, he said he was speaking for an organization <br />that had concerns other than historic preservation, <br />and had come to-the-meeting-toexpress his forma] <br />opposition to landmarking the Studebaker <br />Administration Building. <br />He listed the following reasons for his opposition: <br />--the need to maintain flexibility in making decisions <br />regarding the facility <br />--the need to maintain the building's practical <br />usefulness <br />--the duty to the taxpayers to minimize maintenance <br />costs; the School Corporation was taxpayer -supported. <br />Mrs. Sporleder asked Mr. Sriver why he thought <br />landmark status would jeopardize the efficiency and <br />efficacy of future modifications/repairs to the <br />building. Mr. Sriver said he didn't foresee any major <br />7 <br />