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REGULAR MEETINGFEBRUARY 22, 2010 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />BILL NO. 01-10 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE <br /> ZONING ORDINANCE FOR PROPERTY <br /> BOUNDED BY CHAPIN STREET, <br /> NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILROAD, <br /> LAUREL STREET, AND THE FIRST <br /> ALLEY NORTH OF WESTERN <br /> AVENUE, COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT <br /> 2, IN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, <br /> INDIANA <br /> <br />Councilmember Varner made a motion to refer this bill to the Zoning and Annexation <br />Committee and set it for Public Hearing and Third Reading on March 8, 2010. <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine <br />(9) ayes. <br /> <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that he is not happy about how the project at LaSalle <br />Square is being handled. He stated that the Dog Shelter received 1.5 million dollars out <br />of the TIF Funds designated for that area and is okay with that. However, he questioned <br />the $60,000 that was paid to planners from Chicago to come and assess the site and put a <br />plan together. He stated that there has been no movement at LaSalle Square at all. He <br />stated that there has been the demolition of a car wash and maybe an acquisition of a <br />building but that’s about all. He stated that as far as a face lift or things being built or <br />forward movement on the project has not been done. He stated that he thought there was <br />approximately 2.5 million dollars allocated for this project and nothing has been done. <br />He stated that now just down the street the dog shelter is being built and nothing has been <br />done at LaSalle Square. He also questioned why Senior Living Homes would be <br />constructed there without provided places from them to shop, to get groceries and <br />medicine on a day to day basis. He stated that the planning for this project is going <br />backwards. He stated that planning for LaSalle Square was first and now the animal <br />shelter is being built before anything is being done at LaSalle Square. Councilmember <br />Henry Davis stated that he believes the $60,000 was spent senselessly on the planners <br />from Chicago who spent eight months in planning and assessing the LaSalle Square site <br />and then nothing is done. He stated that it makes it hard to explain to the people who <br />elected him into office that money was spent on plans and nothing to date has been done. <br />He stated that the moral of the citizens of the city is low and it reflects back on the City. <br />He stated that priorities were set when LaSalle Square was added into the TIF district <br />prior to him being elected on Council and to date nothing has been done. He likened the <br />project to a dead horse, if it was a dead horse, it should have been left as a dead horse. <br />Tax dollars should not have been spent on developers to plan for eight months and then <br />spend TIF monies on another project like the Animal Care and Control Facility without <br />some explanation as to why there has not been any further movement on LaSalle Square. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis announced that he along with the American Red Cross are <br />joining together in “Bowling for Haiti” on February 27, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 <br />p.m., at Chippewa Bowl, 225 W. Chippewa Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, to provide <br />relief to the people of Haiti. He stated that everyone is invited and looks forward to <br />th <br />seeing everyone on the 27. <br /> <br />Councilmember Rouse concurred with Councilmember Henry Davis at the points that he <br />was making are legitimate. There was a plan and what happened to that plan? <br />Councilmember Rouse stated that the City Administration needs to champion the plan <br />and bring it to fruition. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 11 <br /> <br />