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South Bend JZedeve Special Mee Ting - 2. OLD t Commission 4, 1979 (continued) Mr. But er: I have reviewed the documents submitted. They are in order. The bid price was the stated minimum price by the Commission. We only received the one bid from Mr. Hepler, and I believe the staff recommends that the bid be accepted by the Commission. Mr. Nim z: Mr. Ellison, have you had a chance to review the bid since your return from Washington, D.C.; and is it your recommendation that we acce t the bid? Mr. Ell son: Yes sir, it is. Mr. Nim z: Are there any further questions or discussions? e Chair recognized Mr. Willie V. Green, Director, of the elCenter.. ................ Mr. Wil ie V. Green: I have a document I wish to read to the Commission, and I a k the Commission's permission to read it. e Chair and the Commissioners agreed that Mr. Green could read the T document to the Commission and everyone present. Mr. Green read the following document: "SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE A MENACE TO BLACK BUSINESSES" The redevelopment district established along the West Washington Street area f om Maple to Olive, is detrimental to black business interest. Mos of the redevelopment districts established by the City of South Bend in the lack community have been detrimental to black businesses. The black communi y experienced its first redevelopment project during the Chapin Street clearan e. An area bounded by Taylor, Western Avenue, Laurel Street and Sample Avenue made up the Chapin Street redevelopment project. During the early nineteen sixties, the Chapin Street area represented a community that contained 60 percent of the black population in the city. Black businesses of any consequences were located on or near Chapin Street. Among the businesses to be found in the area were: Smoke Pierce's Tavern, the Wooldridge Funeral Home, Newbill's Barber Shop, Baker's Grocery Store, Perry's Drug Store, Moon Mullin's Barbecue Pit, Harris' Liquor Store, Jone's Liquor Store, a cigar store owned by Uncle Bill and a pool room. During the mid- sixties the area was declared a "slum community ". A redevelopment project was put in motion and several thousand black residents were displaced. Blacks were forced to move into a deteriorating community on the southeast side of the city, blaing abandoned by a blue collar class of whites. The black businessmen operat' g in the Chapin Street area were forced to try and relocate in all white business districts. The racial attitude of the city made that a difficult -2- task.