05-07-04 Redevelopment Commission Minutes

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SOUTH B Community & Economic Development 1865 1200 County -City Building, 227 west Jefferson, South Bend, Indiana 46601 -1830 ♦ Phone 574/235 -9371 ♦ Fax 574/235 -9021 To: Redevelopment Commission From: Bob Mathia ' l Subject: P.A.C. Graphic Building Date• May 7, 2004 Last year, the Redevelopment Commission acquired the P.A.C. Graphic Building ( "PAC Building ") located at 305 East Colfax ( "Property "). The Commission's intent is to demolish the building and constrict a parking lot that would complement Holladay Corporation's planned development on the old Wharf site in addition to other developments in the area such as the Commerce Center. While preparing plans for the PAC Building's demolition, a group of artists approached Staff with a request to use the PAC Building for artist studios. The group is newly forming and seeks to establish a cooperative -based studio for themselves in the downtown area. At Staff s suggestion, the group looked at the Marycrest Building and Union Station as alternative locations. They also looked at a third facility near the Center for History. For various reasons they rejected all of those sites and have renewed their request to use the PAC Building for the following reasons: (1) the building fits their needs well; (ii) it is large enough to acconlnnodate the group; (iii) it is equipped with sufficient heavy duty utility service to meet their needs (they are sculptures and potters that use kilns and a foundry); and (iv) it has a glassed -in front where a gallery could be set up. The artists have been moving quickly with their organizational efforts. They have chosen a name, "East Race Fire Arts" ( "ERFA "), which is a subsidiary of Sculptural Arts, LLC. They are in the process of writing by -laws for the organization, preparing a five (5) year business plan and have opened a bank account. They intend to submit a formal proposal to the Commission to use the PAC Building and they will include the by -laws and the five (5) year plan in their proposal. In addition, they are in the process of contacting members of the community for support. For example, they have already gotten Doug Hunt and Holladay Corp. to help with inspecting the building and preparing cost estimates for repairs. They have also contacted Charlie Hays and others for possible financial support and they have invited Common Council members Roland Kelly and Ann Puzzello to their meetings. The Redevelopment Commission acquired the Property with the intent of demolishing the PAC Building in order to carry out and complement future development projects which remains the primary objective for the Property. However, delays in the Water's Edge Project and the Commission's involvement and investment in other projects in the South Bend Central Development Area have led Staff to conclude that it is advisable to delay demolition of the PAC Building at the present time. „ „ pdm, a,, ti „pd What We Do Today Makes A Difference!