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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Me ting - March 20, 1981 5. PUBLICIHEARING (continued) I sense that the majority are extremely concerned about the amount that will be offered them for their properties and tho amount they can get in relocation benefits. I sense that the majority still worry about finding some- thing they can be satisfied with and afford. I think the genera sense is that there is no way the amounts to be offere can put someone back in a position of a paid -for home with manageable taxes.. There's no way the govern- ment can compensate for the years of memories that will be plowed under by the bulldozers. There's just no way this plan can be justified as benefitting our low- income people who must relocate. We really wonder if all this displa ement is truly necessary. We do sense that it has be ome inevitable, but we wonder if it isn't possi- ble to find a way to save some more homes. For over a year, people have been in limbo wondering who would have to go and who might be allowed to stay. No one knew whether to fix up or leave alone needed re- pairs and now we are reading the strong message that this Pr oject is bound to proceed in one form or another. So sin e we are not happy with being in limbo, we are glad t e plan does remove that. The plan also promises those of us who are left that we can fil2ally have access to the city's rehabilitation monies. We are in favor of this, although we have some concerns about now many of us will fall between the cracks and still not qualify under any of the programs. We are promised infill housing, and this we are anxiously waiting for. However, we do wonder if the promise will be backed up with vigorous, creative energy, or if it is just so much wishful thinking. We still have difficulty understanding the rationale of this whole project, especially as it addresses the prob- lems of low and moderate income people. We suspect that it is being carried forward to benefit businesses more than residents, but only time will tell. As we Look into the future, we are also concerned about what might happen to our property values and taxes. If there is a sudden, large leap forward rather than a slower steady growth rate, those of us who remain could also find oursel es displaced by this process, i.e., after all these years tinding ourselves unable to afford our own homes. 12