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5. OLd BUSINESS (Cont'd <br />This portion was opened for question and answer session to be <br />directed to Mr. Taylor or to Mr. Steinmetz for answers: <br />Ms. Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune reporter, asked if the <br />branch bank is the first building to be constructed, and Mr. <br />Taylor advised, "Not necessarily. I don't know which is going <br />to be the first building to go up. We are presently negotiating <br />for two (2) offices in the Office Park. The negotiations have gone <br />to the extent that the buildings are actually under design by archi- <br />tectural firms within our City, and I don't know who is going to be <br />the first one to break ground." <br />Also, Ms. Derbeck asked, "Will those office buildings - -the office <br />park - -be put up by somebody else ?" Mr. Taylor advised, "Yes. Most <br />of the construction here will be by other parties associated with <br />us." As to the bank being designated to be first, Mr. Taylor said, <br />"We indicated that we will take down the bank parcel, but I just <br />don't want to comment on when the bank construction might start. <br />There's a lot of flexibility in that contract. We indicated that <br />would be one of the first parcels we would take down. Depending on <br />sales or development agreements within the office park area will <br />depend on when we take that down. We have to take it down when we <br />start, or we can take it down sooner. As we start first construc- <br />tion, we have to take that down." <br />Mr. Lou Tutino, WNDU -TV Reporter, asked when the landscaping will <br />be completed. Mr. Taylor advised they will have to integrate, of <br />course, the landscaping with the development of the individual <br />parcels, and obviously we are working with different developers <br />for different buildings within this configuration, and as a building <br />is completed, the landscaping around that particular building will <br />be developed. The landscaping cannot be developed until the con- <br />struction is started. <br />Commissioner Wiggins said he notices there is indicated a pedestrian <br />link with the bridge through the project, and at what point will that <br />be constructed, or will that depend on when they have the office struc- <br />ture pretty well together? Mr. Taylor indicated on the model where <br />it is, and showed the area where an easement will be required by <br />them to be provided, stipulated by the Department of Redevelopment, <br />from Columbia Street to the Bridge. He said he does not know whether <br />the Department of Redevelopment intends to pave a walkway there, <br />or just what the intent is. "It simply indicates the easement <br />that we have provided for access." Commissioner Wiggins said he was <br />under the impression, right or wrong, that in the process of this, <br />there is a certain amount of flexibility as to where that would be <br />located in order to give them some options in their development, <br />but that is fairly well nailed down at this point. Mr. Taylor con- <br />firmed that is pretty well established now, at this point, yes. <br />As to the landscaping on the Plaza Park, Mr. Taylor said it looks <br />very nice, and they do anticipate a lot of river traffic to the <br />restaurant and the other facilities. He also advised another firm <br />has bought a river boat and plans to make excursions during the <br />- 6 - <br />