08-30-10 City to build on positive economic growth initiatives

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demolition of the final two Studebaker-related buildings is weeks away from beginning. Ignition Park is expanding from its original 89 acres to as much as 140 acres as officials finalize a larger overlay district to specify uses around the technology park site. Meanwhile, Transpo is completing the first building at Ignition Park’s southeast edge – a transportation center that is expected to be the nation’s first LEED Platinum-certified transit facility. Two existing businesses in the area are relocating elsewhere in South Bend: Underground Pipe & Valve to nearby Oliver Industrial Park and Ziolkowski Construction Co. to the Toll Road Industrial Park. ?West – Site work is progressing at Western Avenue and Chapin Street for the construction of a more than $30-million Kroc Community Center for the St. Joseph County Salvation Army. At LaSalle Square, land acquisition is proceeding for a proposed senior housing facility, while operations began at the Bendix Family Physicians. Nearby, construction will begin later this year on a rehabilitated and expanded facility for a new South Bend Animal Care and Control shelter. Investments also are helping realign Mayflower Road and support the Project Impact job-training program targeting “at-risk” and formerly incarcerated residents. ?Northeast – Infrastructure work was completed at Eddy Street Commons and is anticipated for the new Eddy Knolls neighborhood, which contains a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. ?Downtown – In the heart of the city, renovation was completed on the new WNIT Center for Public Media and site-development work is nearing completion for the construction of new condominiums on the East Bank of the St. Joseph River across from the Morris Performing Arts Center. Investments are supporting downtown business recruitment and retention efforts, including an adaptive reuse of the College Football Hall of Fame and renovations at Coveleski Stadium. Work is expected to begin this year on infrastructure upgrades around Memorial Hospital, funded by economic growth in the hospital’s district. Most of these investments are made possible in specially designated areas through Tax Increment Financing, or TIF. Once a TIF area is designated, the growth in taxes related to new economic development (known as the increment) is set aside for reinvestment in redevelopment efforts. Within the TIF district’s boundary, it can fund new infrastructure, such as curbs, sidewalks, streets, landscaping or other public improvements. The department also secures federal funds to assist neighborhoods. With federal funding, the City provided counseling to nearly 100 homeowners facing foreclosure or prospective homebuyers and supported the rehabilitation of 58 homes. Working through nonprofit partners, the City contracted for the rehabbing of another 88 homes, the acquisition/renovation of 12 vacant properties, the construction of eight affordable homes and improvements to 113 rental units. The department also has formed a collaborative partnership with nearly 50 South Bend- certified Realtors to sell market-rate housing in core-city neighborhoods, but that effort is not federally supported. In 2011, expanded activity will lead to the addition of one specialist to assist in general economic development efforts as well as a special initiative to encourage minority recruitment in employment, job training and procurement opportunities in both the public and private sectors. The department also is looking to create a “one-stop” process to streamline the governmental approval process for developers. With a fee-based service, developers would receive special assistance in navigating proposed projects through various approval steps, including by zoning, planning, building and redevelopment entities as well as with the Common Council. # # #