No. 0633 designating Monroe-Sample Dev. Area, declaring the Monroe-Sample Dev. Area to be blighted, approving a development plan/conditions under which relocation pmts. will be made

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I. II. HISTORY OF PROJECT AREA In the early history of South Bend, Monroe- Sample was a farming area on the outskirts of the town. By 1859 most of the neighborhood was annexed with the exception of St. Joseph and Carroll Streets. This area, known as Taylor's Field, was developed as an upper middle in- come neighborhood after 1874. The balance of the area was devoted to workmens' housing for the nearby Birdsell Farm Equipment and Studebaker Wagon factories, and was largely completed early in the Twentieth Century. The Monroe - Sample neighborhood began to decline during the 1950's and this decline accelerated during the 1960's and 1970's. Since 1970 the number of housing units in the area has dropped by one -half (112), resulting in a greatly reduced population and increased amount of vacant land. Many of the structures remaining today are deterior- ating and in need of substantial repair. Recently the City of South Bend, through its Department of Redevelop- ment and Division of Planning, has been examining existing conditions and land utilization patterns throughout the neighborhood. This De- velopment Plan is the culmination of these efforts and sets forth the City's goals and plans for the revitalization of Monroe - Sample as an urban residential and industrial area. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT A. Boundaries of the Monroe - Sample Development Area A parcel of land being a part of the City of South Bend, Portage Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, and being more particularly described as follows, viz: Beginning at the intersection of the centerlines of Michigan Street and Monroe Street in said City; thence East, along said Monroe Street centerline, to the centerline of Lincoln - way East; thence Southeasterly along said centerline to its intersection with the centerline of State Road 23; thence Southwesterly and Westerly along said centerline (being, in part, also known as the centerline of Sample Street) to its intersection with the centerline of Michigan Street; thence North along said centerline to the place of beginning. B. Development Plan Goals and Objectives In order to reinforce and revitalize the area, the following goals and objectives have been established: Create a new, positive identity for the area and provide a pleasant urban environment by eliminating blighting influences and land -use chaos. 2 2/2/81