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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />JLRescheduled Regular Meeting— November 17, 2003 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br />H. Other <br />(1) continued... <br />positive social nexus as well, one that is <br />critically missing now that residents must <br />leave the neighborhood to shop. <br />Cessation of growth can be seen in <br />population statistics that have not recovered <br />since an initial dramatic decrease in the <br />1970's. New housing investment reflects <br />almost entirely the activity of not - for - profits <br />targeting the neighborhood for heavily <br />subsidized rehabilitation and infill projects. <br />Between 1994 and 1997, Neighborhood <br />Housing Services added approximately 30 <br />new homeowners to the neighborhood, and <br />IL Habitat for Humanity and the South Bend <br />Housing Authority were the only other <br />housing investors of note. Market rate <br />housing development has not been seen at <br />comparable levels. <br />Deterioration of improvements is apparent <br />throughout the neighborhood, and includes <br />both private property and public <br />infrastructure. Delapidated storefronts and <br />shop windows with burglar bars line Eddy <br />Street and the Five Points area, reinforcing <br />negative perceptions about the viability of <br />commercial enterprise in the area. Absentee <br />landlords are a particular problem in <br />residential areas, as conversions from single <br />family homes to apartments for student <br />rentals have proliferated over time. There <br />are also longtime homeowners, often the <br />elderly, who simply are not physically or <br />financially able to adequately maintain their <br />homes. <br />14 <br />