10-19-2005 Mayor Announces Four Downtown Development Opportunities

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Mayor Announces Four Downtown Development Opportunities Page 1 of 3 � v%• 'Building a 21St Century City " ' rs Stephen J. Luecke, Mayor RELEASE FROM: FOR RELEASE: Office of the Mayor Wednesday, October 19, 2005 Mayor Announces Four Downtown Development Opportunities Mayor Stephen J. Luecke today announced that the South Bend Redevelopment Commission will be taking action on the following Commission owned properties in the South Bend Central Development Area. In each case,the Commission is "Requesting Proposals"for the development of the properties: SCHEDULE: • Hotel LaSalle RFP issued October 14th, proposals due December 2nd • Air Rights over Parking Garage & Retail Facility at St. Joseph & Jefferson RFP issued October 14th, proposals due December 2nd • Osco's RFP to Commission October 21, expected issue date October 28th/proposals due December 16th • Rink Site RFP to Commission November 4th, expected issue date November 11/proposals due January 6th Approved RFP'S are now available for download directly from the City's website, http://www.ci.south- bend.in.us/. "The City of South Bend strongly supports increasing residential density and commercial vitality in the downtown, and in particular views each of these properties as highly desirable, market-ready sites," stated Mayor Luecke. "We recognize our leadership role in the shaping of the City, and in particular the downtown, including its historic buildings, commercial core and rivertront. I commend the Redevelopment Commission and Community and Economic Development staff who have been doing diligence in gathering the data and information necessary to stimulate successful development" The comprehensive work of City Plan, as well as planning efforts in the East Bank area, and research commissioned through the Buxton Study play a major role in the City's efforts to identify existing assets as well as desired assets in order to implement a strategic plan for enhancing our Downtown and the community. In addition, the staff has also been working to update the procedures and notifications that have to be followed according to the state statute for the sale of property. The City, through the Redevelopment Commission is taking a proactive approach to creating new investment in the city. In the past, the focus has been to work with interested developers who approached the City with a project to build or invest in the community. The goal was to meet the developer's needs and eliminate barriers to development. The Commission sees its responsibility as threefold: • generate qualified interest in the Site, • set a standard of expectations for reuse while remaining flexible to creative possibilities, and http://www.ci.south-bend.in.us/Press/Releases 2005/101905 development.htm 1/13/2006