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10. SUPER BLOCK PROPOSAL - FIRST BANK & TRUST COMPANY (Cont'd_)
<br />Commissioner Wiggins responded, "There is no question but in the building
<br />of the super block - -if and when it comes to pass = -that the streets will be
<br />kept as streets, that they will by reason of their being streets have free
<br />access, for the very simple reason that to relocate the utilities that exist
<br />under those streets would cost so much, money that it would prevent any possi-
<br />bility of the super block being constructed. With the utilities maintained
<br />under there and the easements that permit them, they have "to continue the
<br />streets, and continuing the streets we.have to have access, so that these
<br />will be streets within the super block. Now, this is not to say that we
<br />will be driving cars up and down, because we are not now. Not to plan for
<br />the future, not to recognize thE: elements that "tend 'to make it happen is
<br />to do nothing, and we can't afford that!"
<br />Mrs. Allen added, "The point is you could build on property and not build over
<br />and on the streets. This could reduce the amount of property that you have
<br />for sale for building. You don't have to sell the streets as such for build-
<br />ing. You could still have a very large building built on those properties
<br />and perhaps someone else could see something to go there without it being so
<br />expensive. I just feel we must start something; we just can't wait." Mr.
<br />Bloo quist said, "The point on the streets, on the plan you still would have
<br />the streets there, with a roof over their.heads -- that's the pedestrian passage-
<br />way. You are just extending the Plaza which you now have, further up on Michi-
<br />gan, but architecturally it is a little different and it is environmentally
<br />prot ctive. It is totally open for pedestrian raffic." Mr. Brownell said
<br />it will n also be open for fire traffic.
<br />Mr. John R. Kagel, Executive Director, Downtown South Bend COLincil, said,
<br />"I t ink there is something you have sort of forgotten and that is the action
<br />by tie predecessors here, and 1) I am going back to the consultant that you
<br />have, and I think the consultant has made some very good suggettions over
<br />the years. If you go back to when your office was at 120 West LaSalle Street
<br />Building, in this office, and I think Mr. Wiggins was on the Body, we had the
<br />opportunity to turn this whole project over to one company, one individual- -
<br />an out -of -town outfit. At that time, I think it was the wisdom of the con-
<br />sultants to know, as shortly after that, that.particular developer went broke,
<br />so I think the consultant made a pretty good suggestion at the time to this
<br />Body--your consultant. Now, along with that, we have heard the discussion,
<br />'Let's go out and get a developer; let's go out and get someone to build;
<br />let's do this; why don't you do this; why don't you advertise ?' Are we aware
<br />of the fact that every developer in the U.S., every major financial house in
<br />the U.S., anyone at all interested in building, or developing, has been made
<br />aware of this by legal announcements as required by HUD and have it in their
<br />file, so this thing- -let's dash out with a fire engine and have someone come
<br />in here--these people are aware of this project. If they were interested in
<br />the project, they would step forward. Now, everything is past, we'sees what
<br />we gets,' the horses are out of the barn, and here we are and we have someone.
<br />This discussion on what we are going to do with the utilities, what are we
<br />going to do with the streets, etc. , that's going to have to be up to the
<br />development team and this Commission. I don't think we can do anything as
<br />a citizen participation sitting here determining where the sewer line: is
<br />going to go. I think we are going to have to proceed."
<br />- 16 -
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