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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Me ting - March 20, 1981 5. PUBLICIHEARING (continued) are doing some work on it. We do an extensive amount of grant writing, but again those funds are getting fewer and fewer all the time, you certainly can't depend on them. You just have to be out there and pull all the bucks where - ever they are available. It is hard to predict what all you ca use, we are usually using five or six financing tools. Mr. Nio tz recognized Mr. Lee McKnight for comments. Mr. McKnight introduced himself as one of the principals involy d in the Inter City Enterprise Corporation. Mr. McKnight said that their President, Mr. Harry Nye, and their Vice President, Mr. Silas West also are present this morning. Mr. McKnight said that they have sat and listened to the plans f the Commission and staff as well as the responses from the neighborhood residents of the area and also hear this plan with mixed emotions. We have been located on the corner of South and Columbia Streets, just one block from the area that has been discussed, for the past ten years. Vie have operated a small neighborhood grocery by the name of Max's. Our letter to the Commissioners out- lines our position in terms of what we are concerned about. We fee that taking out approximately 75 structures will destro our ability to continue as a for- profit business in the area and for that reason requested that you con- sider our property for acquisition. There has been some discus ion among staff and Mr. Nimtz about the prospect of the store relocating in the area. We would entertain that consideration, but only at a time that it would be economically sound from a business point of view in terms of our staying in the area. We would like for you to consider our letter that you have in front of you and to con ider at this time Inter City Enterprise or Max's Grocer for acquisition. Mr. Ni# z recognized Mr. Silas West for comments. Mr. West introduced himself and said that being in busi- ness for the last ten years in the area has witnessed a great decline in that area. We have chosen to stay in the area mainly because we felt that a grocery - stores definitely needed, but as statistics continue to tell me, it is doubtful that the city believes that a grocery store is needed in that area. Earlier Mrs. Kolata said that the number of homes in the last ten years had declined in the area atid she also talked about the number of homes that were going to remain in the area, with no consideration to the bu inesses that exist in that area., 19.