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Redeveli <br />Regular <br />7. P <br />)pment Commission <br />Meeting <br />3, 1978 <br />RESS REPORTS <br />Mr. <br />Ellison: I want to repeat what the Mayor and Congressman <br />PROGRESS <br />Bra <br />emas stated yesterday. The Federal government has committed <br />REPORT OF <br />itself <br />in erecting a new privately owned, but federally leased, <br />POSSIBLY <br />off <br />ce facility in downtown South Bend, in addition to pushing <br />HAVING A <br />ahead <br />with the rennovation of the existing federal building <br />PRIVATELY <br />primarily <br />to service the federal courts. A few weeks ago, I was <br />OWNED BUT <br />approached <br />by a staff person for the General Services Administration <br />FEDERALLY <br />who <br />was in the process of doing a study. During the course of the <br />LEASED <br />conversation, <br />there was no indication that the government was <br />OFFICE BLDG. <br />int <br />rested in developing a new building. The staff essentially <br />IN THE CITY <br />pro <br />ided information and tried to provide some facts on other <br />OF SO. BND. <br />thi <br />gs that we were doing, so the federal government would have <br />an <br />ndication of our overall expectations downtown, and the <br />pro,ress <br />that we are making. We also provided some data requested <br />by <br />he government, as it relates to market conditions, labor force <br />availability, <br />etc. I feel this discussion may have assisted the <br />government <br />in making its decision. There are no more details at <br />this <br />time on what the government's intentions are, but it was <br />reported <br />yesterday that the primary location they are interested <br />in <br />s the bus terminal site. There is some uncertainty as to <br />wha <br />impact this building would have on the mall project, and on <br />the <br />bus system, but the Mayor did articulate his concern that <br />we work <br />with the government and make every effort to incorporate <br />the <br />needs of the public transportation into the project. I do <br />not <br />mean to understate the significance, certainly, of the <br />announcement, <br />because I feel we owe Congressman Brademas a pat <br />on the <br />back for helping us yet again. A new federal building <br />represents <br />yet another significant step toward the successful <br />com <br />letion of downtown development. <br />Mr. <br />Wiggins: What is the possibility of the City being the <br />dev <br />loper in this instance? <br />Mr <br />inv <br />abc <br />the <br />Cit <br />Is <br />eco <br />new <br />th o! <br />men, <br />tax <br />Ellison: The conversations with the GSA representative did <br />lve some options, but at this juncture, without knowing more <br />t what lease construction means from the standpoint of how <br />government goes about it, it is difficult to determine if the <br />could. be the developer. During the course of the conversation, <br />rested two things; (1) that from the standpoint of the overall <br />omic development strategies that are involved in and around <br />town, the location of the buses is critical; and,(2) that any <br />downtown building should provide taxes. Perhaps a portion of <br />a concerns are reflected by the federal government's commit <br />to lease privately owned space which would be added to the <br />roll. <br />-5- <br />