08-17-2007 New strategy seeks to expand downtown renaissance

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property has been a blighting influence for more than two decades. Insisting that the property is an obstacle to redevelopment, the city seeks to acquire and demolish the block along with planning for its reuse. Once demolished, the property will be marketed by CB Richard Ellis. 9. A new Town Square on Michigan Avenue—Based on ideas generated in the City Plan process, the city will expand Knute Rockne Plaza along Michigan Street, south of Washington Street, into a new Town Square with additional green space, benches and sculpture. The city also is in conversation with Teachers Credit Union about creating a special event space at its lot on the southwest corner of the intersection. TCU could build a two-story open-air shed that would enclose its existing parking lot and enable it to serve as a special-event space for evenings and weekends. 10. Oliver Home, from 405 W. Wayne St. to the 400 block of West Washington St. — This architecturally significant 1872 Italianate villa, now home to the Diamond & Diamond law firm, would be moved from its current location, wedged between two industrial outbuildings, to amore visible location west of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana office. The relocation would complete an avenue of highly historic properties from the Old Courthouse to the museum campus at Washington and Chapin streets. 11. St. Joseph Street traffic calming—In order to make the street more pedestrian friendly and better connect Century Center with the rest of the central business district, the city will add on-street parking, landscaping and medians at integral walkways to slow the speed of traffic. The city plans to budget resources in 2008 to accomplish this change. 12. Rushton Apartments—The city will work with Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana to develop this historic apartment structure at the corner of Washington and Williams streets into apartments or condominiums. 13. South Bend Regional Museum of Art—The city is providing a planning grant for design work on a sculpture garden along St. Joseph Street. Since he began work Jan. 15, Gibney has been working in consultation with department staff and key stakeholders on the plan. For planning purposes, the city defines South Bend's downtown as bounded by Memorial Hospital on the north, Eddy Street on the east, Sample Street on the south and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Chapin Street) on the west. "We are prepared to guide growth in the downtown and elsewhere in the city," Luecke said. "With Jeff Gibney at the helm, we are open for business in South Bend. New energy, creativity and a `can do' attitude will support business and investment." - 30 -