RM 02-15-80 - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Me ting February 15, 1980 show on the road rather than go on on. Mr Ellison: Mr. Brademas, I have to say in response that obviously with this project the public sector is acting as the major de eloper. If there are local groups who want to come in and hire the architects and perhaps commit themselves to do the development, I think you will find that th s Commission and the City historically wi 1 respond to that. We did not have that sif,uation with the First Bank project and we do not have that situation with the mall. The public sector has taken the initial risk of causing concepts to be articulated and run by everybody who is involved. One value of G en's work so far is that at least we have a concept from the standpoint of linking the nevr heart of town with the surrounding areas. It is appropriate that we have spent the $1 2,000 for Gruen so far, and that we continue to spend more money to continue the process. There are no indications that there will be a ceveloper who will walk into town and who will simply say.. "Okay, I will do the mall anc I will do the office building." We arE not in that circumstance yet. If we we e in that circumstance it would make our job a lot easier and I would be the first person to applaud the developer or group of developers who would do it. We simply don't have that circumstance yet and that is why we are taking these non - traditional roles- - to al government wants to cause something to happen. Mr. Brademas; Mr. Ellison you are not su gesting are you, that the First Bank and thE Marriott people had no role at all in thE designation or selection of the architect? Mr. Ellison; No, I am suggesting that they ha a very substantial role. The difference is that neither the bank nor the Marriott acted as a developer would in a normal sense. Th y had an intimate part of making that whole pr cess possible, -13-