I was disappointed to read about the Garde's current plans for expanding their facility to accommodate the Performing Arts Magnet School, “New London schools and Garde have deal on magnet school plan,” (May 4). While I back the concept of this project, I was surprised that the current thinking is to demolish both the Mercer and Meridian Building. In the past, I was involved in developing plans to expand the Garde's facilities and I am thus well acquainted with both buildings. I agree that the one-story Meridian Building is not suitable for expansion and could be demolished, but I disagree with doing the same with the Mercer.

Although not a downtown landmark per se, the Mercer Building does contribute to the historic streetscape in that vicinity due to its design and scale. The New London Redevelopment Agency embraced the easier, cheaper approach in the 1960s and 1970s. We were left with large tracts of undeveloped land; most buildings were replaced with mediocre architecture at best.

We should learn from past mistakes. I urge the planners of the Garde project to reconsider the fate of the Mercer Building and use their creativity to incorporate it in their planning.

Richard Gipstein

Mystic