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REGULAR MEETING <br />JULY 9, 2007 <br />residents, and the City benefit as well. He asked the Council favorable approval of the <br />PUD. <br />Mr. S. J. Szabo, with offices on Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, Indiana stated that he <br />favors the development of the University Village and broad spectrum housing on the site. <br />However, he favors this project like he favors Portage Prairie and the Middle Class White <br />Flight to Granger. This project is no River Park! <br />Chairperson White asked Mr. Szabo if he was speaking in favor of this bill? <br />Mr. Szabo stated yes. <br />Mr. Szabo continued that one cannot deny the importance of the University as to post <br />industrial South Bend, the proposed Eddy Street development indicates that Notre Dame <br />is forsaken the role of symbiotic community partner. The proverbial 900 lbs. gorilla in <br />our midst. Proving that the dollar is more important than responsible community <br />relations Norte Dame has brought in an out of town developer with no other stake than <br />profit in this Community and who is once again engaged in bait and switch tactics to up <br />their take to stratospheric levels, to build a small city that is entirely out of scale with the <br />both the University and the surrounding neighborhoods. <br />Again, Chairperson White ask Mr. Szabo if he is in favor of this project <br />Mr. Szabo stated yes, he was in favor of this bill. <br />Mr. Szabo stated that it is all about the money for Notre Dame and Kite Development. <br />What began in the public consciousness as quant University Village in the Woods <br />concept has mushroomed into the City of Notre Dame. Complete with its own mid-rise <br />downtown, hotels, parking garage and expensive alumni-condo's for game days, all <br />executed with what is build as the "new urbanism." A term appropriate for this budding <br />metropolis. Rising like a whopping OZ above the surrounding neighborhoods, make no <br />mistake this is true city with a four story main street which is taller than most sections of <br />downtown South Bend, two mid-rise hotels, a parking garage of undisclosed height and <br />three plus story ritzy condo's, with the future addition of the triangle, suburban housing <br />development and the proposed tech incubator space, Notre Dame City will be a complete <br />and self contained entity rivaling Portage Prairie on the west side. Those who live and <br />work there will have no need to venture out of their new city and upscale suburbs into the <br />surrounding community. The money will flow alright, right into Notre Dame's <br />considerable coffers and into Indianapolis. What will South Bend gain by fostering the <br />establishment of this new town within our borders? Well some tax money, once the <br />incentive's run out. Plus a couple of hundred low paying service sector jobs. What will <br />is cost us? For starters it will cost this community the tens of millions that will flow to <br />Indy developers. This is most disturbing as surely responsible community partners would <br />have found a way to involve local investment to keep the profits in the community. Not <br />to mention the planning, design and construction fees that could have benefited local <br />companies. The only jobs for us will be whatever the out of town development <br />construction companies need locally and on a temporary basis. Then there is the cost of <br />providing and maintaining the intensive infrastructure of sewer and water. Along with <br />police and fire protection, that is already stretched far beyond present capacities. The <br />lack of a Fire Station in this urban development is appalling. The future tech park will <br />zap business from Blackthorn and nullify any future plans to develop the Studebaker <br />Corridor. The most insidious effect will be upon the community that has always <br />supported Notre Dame's growth and prosperity. This development that is shown will be <br />a body blow to South Bend's bleak downtown. It zaps the vital office space utilization <br />from the CBD and the Hotels will probably result in the closer of the South Bend <br />Marriott Downtown by taking business away from outlying hotels who survive mainly on <br />the football season. South Bend is driving a stake into its own heart by supporting this <br />development instead of working with the University to accommodate its need by <br />investing within the existing community structure. As tragic once again that short- <br />sightedness and a few crumbs now will prevent the current administration not to mention <br />27 <br />