02-26-2007 South Bend Lathe moves closer to demolition, cleanup

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o�sou TH F dx :J b W eFacE � � y� a 1, a2 1865 Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE February 26, 2007 4::45 PM Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876- 1564, or Andy Laurent, 245-6112 South Bend Lathe moves closer to demolition, cleanup SOUTH BEND—The South Bend Board of Public Works today confirmed that 16 contractors are eligible to bid for the contract to demolish the former South Bend Lathe facility, 400 W. Sample St. The contract is expected to be put out for bid in March and awarded in April. This 15-acre site with its 500,000-square-foot building represents about 20 percent of land and structures in the Studebaker corridor's Area A—decaying remnants of South Bend's manufacturing history. The project will bring the total demolition in the entire Studebaker corridor to nearly 2.5 million square feet with another 1 million square feet in the Oliver Plow area. "This will open up the land for new jobs, new investment and new pride," Mayor Stephen J. Luecke said. "These sites will be reused as productive business parks where people once again can find employment opportunities in the inner city. This is not only good for the environment, it is also an important part of our Smart Growth strategy." Located directly across from South Bend Police headquarters, the former South Bend Lathe's demolition and environmental remediation will begin in June with expected completion by May 2008. "It will have a very visible impact on the entire area," said Andy Laurent, project manager for the Sample-Ewing Development Area for South Bend's Community and Economic Development department. "This South Bend Lathe project is one of the most visible phases of the demolition. ... I would expect, if dollars are available, to have all the land cleared in early 2009."