07/16/07 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING JULY 16, 2007 asked everyone to welcome the $200 million dollars investment. Mayor Luecke stated that this is really unprecedented in the City of South Bend in recent times and to show the City's vitality, growth and development here in the City of South Bend. Councilmember White asked Mayor Luecke if he would further explain that Notre Dame Students get to ride TRANSPO free of charge. Mayor Luecke stated that is correct, that it is part of their fees that they pay to the University of Notre Dame. The University has a contract with TRANSPO, so they do not pay each time they ride the bus. Mr. Charles Hayes, 1634 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that about eight years ago he started buying parcels of land around the five-points area, he believed that's where he thought that the project was going to start. He has been waiting for a long time for this project to go forward. He thinks that it is very consistent with what is being done at the five-points area. He stated that he is one of the biggest single private land owners in the area and is anxious for this project to move on, and work with the developers in Phase II of the project. He thinks that it is exciting as an investor and for people who want to stay in South Bend. Mr. Solomon Anderson, 612 N. Jacob St., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is a life long resident of the northeast neighborhood and currently the Treasurer of the North East Neighborhood Council (NENC). On behalf of the NENC he presented the Council with a Petition from residents from the Northeast Neighborhood of South Bend acknowledging support for the side development plan of approximately 25 acres located near the intersection of Angela Boulevard/ Edison Road and Eddy Street also know as "Eddy Street Commons.", along with a map of where most of the supporters reside. He urged the Council to vote favorably on the Eddy Street Commons Project. Ms. Mary Beth Saunders, 204 Tonti, South Bend, Indiana, stated that she is really heartened by what the representatives from Kite have commitment to in regard to green building techniques. She can't tell you how many university towns that she has been in and they all look the same, and they are all wonderful and vibrant, and now the City of South Bend has the opportunity to create a national model for green building techniques for a university town. She also stated that once the wooded area is gone it is gone forever. She stated that she has done some research on the catch and release process and animals more than likely once they are let go in another area they die, because they don't know where to fmd shelter, water or food. So keep this in mind when this process is taking place and to respectfully request a small wild life sanctuary in the wooded area that is left. She address the effects of the development on Downtown South Bend, she thinks that this is a really creative opportunity for downtown to embrace this opportunity. She for one is very excited about it, it gives the folks that already own businesses in the Downtown to come together and the one thing that is going to make it all come together is City Plan. She respectfully requested the Council to think about how City Plan will continue to move forward in regard to the Central Business District. Mr. Greg Jones, 53384 Olive Rd., South Bend, Indiana, stated that he works as the Coordinator of the Indiana Plan, an affirmative action plan that works with the Indiana State Building Trades which is located at 315 N. Lafayette Blvd. He is reading a statement from the Community Forum for Economic Development. A lot of thought has been put into this statement. The Community Forum for Economic Development is an organization which includes participants from St. Joseph County. What unites them is their desire to increase living standards and opportunities for area residents, in other words, to support economic development within the community. In particular they support projects that can contribute to the revitalization of economically distressed areas of the City and the Eddy Street Commons is capable of being such a development. It is located in census tract 10 and according to the Census Bureau; tract 10 has a poverty rate of 29% and an unemployment rate of 16% and median household income $13,726.00. Since the Eddy Street Commons will be located within the northeast neighborhood TIF District, it is expected that the tax increment from the Commons will be used for infrastructural improvements in the triangle area, an area long in need of revitalization 11