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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Special Meeting - October 10, 1979 2. NEW BUISINESS b. MrI. Wasielewski continues.... First of all I would suggest that you throw away all the demolition bids you have received, because I don't think you need them any longer. I think we are going to rehab this particular building. I think the City wants it rehabed, and I think the voice of the people has been heard through numerous letters received in that regard. I would certainly like to see the Redevelopment Commission take a new tack with downtown redevelopment. In the past it has been demolition, one after another, and I don't think we have had a chance, with the exception of this particular building, to see what could happen if we re abilitated a building. I think over the years we have never given any building downtown a chance. I bless the day when the City acquired this building because it took off the smoke factors that were involved with the previous ow ers, etc. Now I feel the City has a responsibility to to k at these rehabilitation bids, ignore the demolition bi s, and go ahead with saving this building. Mr. Nimtz: Thank you. Now in defense for the Commissioners who have gone on before, let me say that there has been a change in the philosophy of Congress and with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the years concerning development, and there has been a greater emphasis as we we 1 know, in the historic preservation movement, of which So th Bend is a prime example. Ms Auburn: I have one question to direct to National Mobile Co crete. I would like to know if you have been involved in this type of rehabilitation work in any other place in the co ntry? Mr Blandford: I think that is a very valid question. The answer is unequivically... "no ". But, we feel we have a track record with certain organizations and this is an area of diversification for our firm. Being close to South Bend, and myself being a resident of South Bend, we look upon this as a method to carry out that plan of diversification. Th ere direct be ref Second howeve them o next m >eing no objections by members of the Commission, the Chair ?d that the rehabilitation proposals and the demolition proposals ?rred to the staff and legal counsel for investigation and report. ly, the Chair directed that the documents be opened for inspection, so that the Commissioners or members of the staff could review withdraw them from 4 o'clock in the afternoon until 9:30 the ►rning. -14-