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Timothy KlusczinskL_President, Historic Preservation Commission -_Sep. _17, 2012 Da -e 6 Inspection of the capstones & parapet: On September 7, 2012 I decided to go up to look at the parapet on the front roof myself and take a close up photo of the place where the 8.5 lb. stone was once attached. The Library's Assistant Facilities Manager, Bruce Burnett, assisted and accompanied me. I took some very close photos of the location where the 8.5 lb. terra cotta capstone once sat and found that all of the concrete that once held the capstone in its position had disintegrated into a crumbled mass of small pieces. I also discovered that the larger portion of the capstone that did not fall and from which the 8.5 lb. piece broke away, was also loose, so loose that I could move the stone back and forth in its position with just the tips of my fingers. Other than its weight, nothing seemed to be holding this larger piece in place, other than gravity. It was just sitting there, unattached to either the stone below it or above it. The diagonal break at the front of this stone appeared to match the diagonal break of the 8.5 lb. terra cotta capstone that fell. I collected some of the broken concrete grout pieces that were still there and later found that one of them matched perfectly the top jagged edge of the 8.5 lb. piece that fell. Three close photos of the cavity where the 8.5 lb. stone once sat are enclosed, along with several photos of other capstones and large terra cotta pieces that are still on the parapet. Two of those photos show two large matching terra cotta pinnacles (round, cone -like pieces with small ball -shaped finials). These are close to the top center of the fagade. Both pinnacles seemed to be precariously attached to the capstones below them. One pinnacle shows practically no mortar remaining below its base because I could see right through the space below it. This pinnacle appears to be suspended in the air with a very small piece of mortar at the very center of its base. I was told later when I shared the photos with the engineers that it is probably held in place by an iron rod that may run up through its center from the capstone under it to which it is still attached. Because these metal rods have practically no mortar remaining around them to protect them from the elements, as my photos show, I would guess that they are both badly rusted. Because of their apparent lack of attachment to their bases and their weight (probably over 50 lbs. each) both of these pinnacles, as well as their capstones, should be removed soon and examined by professionals since they could cause serious injury and damage if they were to ever come down. Lee Insurance Group Notice Since the Library's insurance agent, Mr. Thomas A. Meilstrup, of Lee Insurance Group, has placed the Library, and the Historic Preservation Commission, on notice with his August 29, 2012 letter as to their potential and mutual liabilities if someone should be injured by a falling stone, the Library has followed the prescribed procedure of the Historic Preservation Commission to move this process forward as quickly as possible and has requested permission to demolish the Avon building before this unsafe condition becomes any worse. The condition of the fagade is presently endangering pedestrians along the 300 block of Michigan Street, a sidewalk that is heavily traveled because of the surface parking lot just south of the Avon. This is even heavier when any type of special event takes place in downtown South Bend, such as Art Beat or I" Fridays. Pedestrians and vehicles also frequently use the north -south alley behind the Avon building where there are many missing Recipient of the 2009 Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence www.librar-N,forlife.org