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REGULAR MEETING JULY 9, 2007 <br />Mr. Ed Conlin, 1107 Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, thanked the Council for the <br />opportunity to speak tonight. Mr. Conlin stated that he had purchased his home from the <br />University of Notre Dame, about a year ago; it was used as a rental for faculty. Mr. <br />Conlin stated that they moved from the County, Clay Township, to the City. He stated <br />that they moved for two reasons, one to downsize, and the other to be able to walk in a <br />neighborhood and see things and do something, not just be able to walk back to your <br />house. The project that is before the Council tonight was another reason for moving back <br />into the City. This development will have an impact on reuniting the community and be <br />a very positive addition. Mr. Conlin stated that he does a lot of conferences for the <br />School of Business at the University and having a full service hotel to accommodate the <br />guests would really be a great advantage. As with most plan the devils into details, most <br />plans look good on paper and a lot of time they fall apart in their execution. So the real <br />key is the risk management aspects. Questions like can we find the right tenants, it the <br />project the right size, will it be attractive, will it create a ghost town for people who will <br />only live in the apartments on the weekends? These risks have to be managed creatively. <br />Conditions, commitments are good things, ask the right questions, and in the end made <br />the right decision and move this plan ahead. <br />Ms. Ann Costello, 120 N. Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she has been a <br />resident of the northeast neighborhood since 1970, living at the following addresses: <br />1004 St. Vincent; 707 Corby Blvd.; 517 Sunnyside; and 120 N. Notre Dame. She stated <br />that she attended St. Joseph Grade School, John Adams School, student teaching at <br />Perley Primary Center; her husband worked as a social worker at Logan Center for <br />sixteen (16) before taking a leave of absence to care for their children. She stated that <br />both she and her husband take an active role in the affairs of the neighborhood and have <br />appeared before the Council on a number of occasions to speak on a range of issues. She <br />stated that she is a board member of the NENC and regularly write history and human <br />interest articles for the quarterly newsletter. She stated that she recounts her history <br />because it reflects the level and range of her experience in the neighborhood and well as <br />her commitment to the changes fazes of her professional and personal life. She is here <br />today in support of the Eddy Street Commons Project for a number of important reasons. <br />There are many poor people in her neighborhood that will benefit from the jobs generated <br />by these new businesses. Transportation to and from work won't require a lengthy bus <br />trip or a transfer at the bus station downtown. People can walk or ride a bike in good <br />weather or share a car ride. Those of us in the upper and middle classes often forget what <br />a blessing it can be to secure a job close to home, close to school where our children <br />spend their days and close to extended family members who help out with after school <br />child care. She stated that she has listened to the request of some of those issues in <br />opposition to this project, she realizes that they are out of touch with their community, if <br />they truly believe that as a neighborhood need a lending library, another park, or another <br />non-profit project that will be exempt from paying taxes, people need employment. <br />Cities like South Bend need a tax base to provide services for those who are not or <br />underemployed. Most folks are not in need of more ways on how to spend their leisure <br />time. Between holding down several part time jobs and caring for aging parents, <br />children, and grandchildren. Another park or an exclusive library is the last items on <br />their list of priorities. She stated that they are very fortunate to turn private fenced land <br />into something that could substantially benefit the people who have been working and <br />living near it for generations. She also supports this project because of its low impact on <br />the environment, by developing a project of this scope in an urban area, they are making <br />use of the infrastructure that is already in place, rather than starting from scratch with <br />massive road expansion etc., as is inevitably needed in suburban areas. By building up <br />instead of out they are making best use of this available land without adding to sprawl <br />and land use waste. A recent Time Magazine articles stated that the best thing that <br />people can do for the environment is move to "Manhattan." In other words, develop the <br />land already given over to human habitation rather than create new areas outside of the <br />cities. She stated that she has been pleasantly amused by sightings of wildflowers and <br />deer that have somehow survived in this small circumscribed wooded area. If these <br />species do in fact live in these woods, they certainly are hardy enough to exist elsewhere. <br />She is sure that the boy scouts will be welcoming people to their nature preserve just <br />down the street, a project heartedly supported by the NENC, to witness the thriving flora <br />and fauna nearby. Finally, she stated that she has learned many lessons as an active <br />25 <br />