RM 10-15-76 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont'd e Michiana Area Council of Governments, at their meeting on tober 13, 1976, reviewed and approved Resolution No. 533, and received a letter from MACOG dated October 13, 1976, that they prove of the changes in our Declaratory Resolution No. 533. Today, we have the Public Hearing for consideration of the adoption of Resolution No. 535 which confirms Resolution No. 533 with respect t ) the LaSalle Park Project, Indiana R -57, and for making certain c anges to the Urban Renewal Plan. M3. Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune Reporter, asked to have ex- plained in layman's language what we are trying to do. Mr. Brownell advised, as explained in our meeting of September 17 - -at the time Resolution No. 533 was adopted by the Commission- -that we wish to delete 55 parcels from the acquisition list in the LaSalle Park Urban Renewal Project, Indiana R -57. A number of these parcels were actually dropped from the acquisition list several years ago, but formal action amending the plans was not taken at that time. We are facing the R -57 Project close -out and we are now trying to amend the plan to formally delete these 55 parcels from the acquisition list. M . Derbeck asked why these parcels were being deleted. Mr. Brownell r plied there were various reasons for the deletion of these parcels. Ore reason was that HUD had requested the deletion of some of the parcels where the condemnation action was requiring too long a period ol time and HUD decided to get this Project closed out before the end of this calendar year. Some of the parcels were deleted at a prior date several years ago. Apparently some of the parcels were deleted because they are on muck land and there was no desire to ac- quire additional lots which were not usable for building but only for gardens and other uses. Thee Chair asked if there were any other questions or comments from th public, or the Press? Ms. Derbeck raised the question, "Didn't anyone know these were on muck land before they started the Project ?" Commissioner Wiggins advised that we re- claimed a lot of muck land and there is a fair amount of muck that we did take that we set up as available for ga dens that we turned over to the Park Department. That whole area was a part of what was known as Beck's Lake or the beginning of the Kankakee system. No one knew how extensive the muck was or how deep it was until we had the contractor, Woodruff and Sons, to put in some sewers and they took out as much as 60 feet of muck in some places. President Nimtz added that she (Ms. Derbeck) may recall this is partly what was wrong with Western Avenue for many years th t had a wavy washboard effect, until it was taken up and the mu k removed. Co .issioner Wiggins further added that briefly what was done was to salvage all that was salvageable, and the balance of the land th re will be satisfactory for a park, a sodded grassy area, or for - 4 -