No. 0908 expanding the boundaries of the WWCDA, expanding the allocation area for purposes of TIF, and amending the development plan

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The Concept Plan calls for a new neighborhood commercial center to be located at the northeast corner of Washington and North Walnut Streets, restoring this corner as the commercial hub of the neighborhood. Existing buildings would be cleared from the site to ready it for redevelopment. Along both Washington and Chapin Streets, the concept plan calls for new consolidated parking areas to serve the adjacent businesses. 4. Industrial This district is reasonably well defined by existing industrial development. The area in- cludes newer planned facilities such as the O'Brien Paint Company located north of Washington Street, and a new construction company at the west end of Washington Street. It also includes older industrial buildings that range in age, height, size, type of construction and condition. In general, the older facilities are characterized by building obsolescence and a non - competitive arrangement of site access, parking, service and en- vironmental improvements. Contemporary industrial development in the area south of Washington Street will require removal of many of the smaller free - standing buildings in poor condition and replatting of the assembled areas for development as a planned in- dustrial park. The Concept Plan for the industrial portion of the Near Westside suggests reassembled parcels of 1 -1/2 to 2 acres, along with rehabilitation of major industrial buildings. This area is located within an established Urban Enterprise Zone and Tax Abatement Impact Area, and a full range of business development incentives is available to help the area compete with newer industrial parks. The Concept Plan suggests that the to -be- assembled parcels be developed as a modern industrial park served by an internal circulation system. A landscaped perimeter along West Washington and North Birdell Streets would buffer the area from the adjacent residential blocks. 5. Public The public areas identified as part of the plan include the existing Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Center and the City fire station. No other major public recreational uses are proposed. However, the Plan suggests a major gateway feature at the corners of Western Avenue and Chapin Street. Target Area Development Plans Highly focused and concentrated action is recommended for the Washington Street and Chapin Street target areas. The Washington Street area occupies a strategic and highly visible location within the neighborhood, and is characterized by the most serious problems of blight, obsoles- cence and dilapidation. Successful redevelopment of this area will have a major and beneficial impact on the image and reputation of the neighborhood as a whole. The Chapin Street area is also characterized by numerous vacant and deteriorating buildings. Efforts to revitalize this area have been initiated by the South Bend Heritage Foundation, the St. Joseph Health Care Group, and the City of South Bend through its Department of Economic Development. These efforts should be sup- ported and expanded as part of the early action program for the neighborhood. 18