Approving Neighborhood Development Program, annual increment thereof and filing of an application for financial assistance

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To: The South Bend Redevelopment Commission 1 The South Bend Common Council .a From; The Project Area Committee on the Southeast Side of South Bertd, Indiana. Date: August 20, 1971 This is to give the official approval of the Project ilrea Committee for the application for funding of a first phase of the Neighborhood Development Program made to the Regional Office of The Department of Housing and Urban Development. This approval is made with some reservation. The Project Area 8ommittee has been given limited opportunity to be involved in any planning for our area. Mr. Ashenfelter in a letter dated August 5, 1971 said "...this letter will certify to you that the boundary lines as shown in the application are not firm and fixed and that the boundaries can be altered during the plan por6ion of the first action year." The Project Area Citizens intend to be very involved in the planning and to work for their goal of maintaining a neighborhood for our citizens, not so much deciding on what is appropriate now in city planning or what is most beautiful, but what is best for the residents, the renters and home owners who are interested in our neighbor- hood as their home. We are working for maximum rehabilitation and a bare minimum of clearance. This reflects the wishes of the majority of the area residents who in two separate meetings unanimously showed their intention to remain in our community and not move out at the whim of planners. We wish to protect residen,59 from needless heartaehe% and loss. Our values are based on human dignity and the rights to self determina- tion. Becuase we seek improvement, we give approval to the application as a bond of our intention to work together for the betterment of our neighbor- hood and the city of South Bend assured that we are not bound to a set plan of demolition and clearance of the area descrited in the submission, but to the effective use of these funds for their most •reative use. The heaviest burden for determination is borne by those whose future is being dire4+tly determined.. That is the role we accept. -- The Project Area Committee on the Southeast Side of South Bend, Indiana