17-56 South Shore Doubletracking w/regard to Ardmore Neighborhood

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BILL NO. 17-56 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION BY THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL ADDRESSING THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION UTILIZING THE RIVER WEST TIF DISTRICT OF SOUTH BEND FOR THE $25 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP FINANCE THE DOUBLE TRACKING OF THE SOUTH-SHORE LINE WITH RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE ARDMORE NEIGHBORHOOD Whereas, Ardmore is an unincorporated community in Portage Township, St. Joseph County, on the northwest side of South Bend, Indiana-https:Hen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardmore, Indiana; and Whereas, the re-routing of the South Shore line tracks would cause a great burden both financially and emotionally to the current residents of the Ardmore Neighborhood. The proposed plan to move the tracks would cause a relocation of many of the long term residents which would bring both the emotional and financial burdens, with various local reports expressing that an estimated 35 to 40 homes in the Ardmore Neighborhood area would have to be acquired to accommodate a re-routing of the railroad's approach to the terminal at the South Bend International Airport- http://www.wndu.com/content/news/230-LIVESTREAM-South-Shore- reroute-media-briefing-434523923.html; http://www.wndu.com/content/news/South-Shore-project-moves- forward-with-local-funding-429723993.html; and Whereas,the residents of the Ardmore Neighborhood have a petition, which has over 300 signatures in hopes that South Shore organizers might take a look at the actual people living in those homes which could be affected by the re-routing of the South Shore line tracks -http://www.abc57.com/news/ardmore-neighborhood- group-fights-to-save-homes-from-south-shore-rerouting; and Whereas, various City, County and Business Leaders say they have a prime opportunity to change the modest population growth in our area, which has grown for each of the past four years, but has trailed the State of Indiana's growth rate, by double-tracking part of the South Shore Line, which would eliminate the need for the passenger line to wait for oncoming freight trains, and realigning the South Shore's approach to South Bend International Airport - http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-county-will-commit- millions-for-faster/article 22b2d4cl-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484bI Lhtm; and Whereas, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg shared that the City of South Bend would tap its River West TIF district for the $25 million dollars to help finance the double-tracking part of the South Shore Line, which would eliminate the need for the passenger line to wait for oncoming freight trains, and realigning the South Shore's approach to South Bend International Airport. The City of South Bend would try to later get the money reimbursed from federal sources -http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/politics/st joseph-county- money-for-south-shore-double-tracking-in/article 74481930-ad94-5cOa-a221-4c6de143d806.html; http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-county-will-commit-millions-for- faster/article 22b2d4c1-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484b1 l.html; and Whereas, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, when asked whether reducing the trip by 10 minutes is worth$25 million, expressed, "The answer is in the economic impact,"he said. "We're talking about a game changer for economic growth. It's hard to think of something that would have a bigger potential bang for the buck than something like this,"he said. "We recognize it's not a small commitment, especially for the county with some of the pressure it's under fiscally, but we also see the return on investment that could make it one of the best bets we've ever placed." -http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-st joseph-count will-commit-millions-for-faster/article 22b2d4cl-4737-5855-b9cf-f75830484bl l.html, and Whereas, it is believed that there are ways to promote the South Shore Line plans for faster transportation service between the cities of South Bend and Chicago, which is for the betterment of the residents who live in the City of South Bend as it relates to their transportation needs and at the same time promote saving the homes in the Ardmore Neighborhood, which is in keeping with the South Bend Common Council's Mission Statement: To make certain that our City Government is always responsive to the needs of our residents &that the betterment of South Bend is always our highest priority - http://wsbt.com/news/local/study- underway-to-help-the-south-shore-line-reroute-and-decrease-ride-time; https://www.southbendin.gov/govemment/department/common-council. The following actions are respectfully being requested of the South Bend Common Council to the South Bend Redevelopment Commission for its thoughtful consideration: