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structurally retained with only some loss of property. It could affect one structure that rates an Outstanding/13, the D. F. Bailey bank barn that Andrew Toth designed in 1940. Two landmarks are within a mile of the proposed route: the Emil Johnson Farmhouse at 60717 Locust Road and the James Vandenbosch Farm at 61955 Locust Road. Because Alternative C does not shift US 31 too far from its current path, this possible road right of way may provide the city with an opportunity to enhance the southern entrance of the city even though much traffic will be shifted from US 31 and the current South Michigan Street entrance. The city could possibly end up with a more attractive entrance and enhanced commercial and retail operations approaching downtown as well as the creation of a more vibrant, high-density urban environment than exists at this time. On the other hand, diverting traffic from US 31 and South Michigan could cause traffic and potential visitors to by pass the city and its businesses. This placement would also end any chance for the reuse of the railroad right of way and the retention of the corridor's presence in the county landscape as a marker of an historic period. Because of the close proximity to the current roadbed, alternative C may have fewer drawbacks than option G. Because this option will move the alignment of the road more drastically than E and F and will remove the entirety of the railroad bed, staff finds C less favorable. Alternative E Curving into US 31 between Roosevelt and Kern Roads, Alternative E will affect those structures along the proposed route that overlaps with option C as well as a barn dating to 1885 that rates Significant/11, two significant arts and crafts bungalows, a contributing Queen Anne residence, and the Julia Schafer farmhouse that ranks Significant/12. Option E may directly affect two local historic landmarks: the Joseph Fameman Italianate farmhouse on US 31 and Southlawn Cemetery. The cemetery dates to 1850 and has a small administration building dating to the 1920s. Option E will affect a large portion of the Penn Central/Conrail RR corridor as well as several other significant historic structures along US 31 s current path. Because Alternative E moves the alignment of the roadway into the rural landscape, staff finds that this option is not as favorable as F. To its benefit, Route E would not harm historic structures that line US 31 south of Roosevelt Road. It would reconnect the new highway to the existing roadbed and entrance into South Bend. Alternative F Of all the proposed routes, Alternative F remains on the current US 31 path for the longest distance. North of the city of Lakeville, F curves to the east to rejoin the existing US 31 at New Road. The proposed route ends at the US 31 junction with US 20. Due to the large amount of residential and commercial development along US 31, alternative F offers many challenges. Nine historic structures, including two local landmarks, and possibly more stand along the roadside. If the roadway is widened, many of these homes and businesses, historic or not, may have to be moved or demolished. Yet, it may be preferable to reuse an existing travel artery rather than cut through rural and suburban areas with new roadbeds. The negative impact on the specific structures along the roadway, though great, may be comparably less than the possible negative affects upon the county's landscape and living environments caused by the construction of one of the other options. Of the many structures that would be directly affected by possible improvements and widening of US 31 as proposed in Alternative F, the following are historic and recorded on the Historic Structures Inventory of St. Joseph County completed by the Historic Preservation Commission and Crumlish & Sporleder in 1975. As a person drives north in Union County, he or she may gather a brief glimpse of a 1924