RM 09-13-85 - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Me ting - September 13, 1985 6. NEW BUSINESS (Cont.) a. uo r-inuea... and convention dollars that are brought into the community. This is a major industry and it can only go up. The connection of the Marriott and Century Center by a skywalk will enhance the competitiveness to market this general community. It has been a concern of Ce tury Center that they are going head to head with cities of our size in competing for regional and national conferences that have almost a totally enclosed facility. The project has long term benefits. Mr. Gilbert asked what the public's opportunity was in 1979 to participate in the de ision to construct a skywalk. Mr Hill stated that as part of the UDAG appropriation process there were public hearings before the City Council. Any actions by the Redevelopment Commission in terms of th ground lease were conducted only when public hearings were held. That project itself creates a very substantial portion of th increment that permits Redevelopment to issue these bonds. There was a series of ne otiations in terms of any development agreement that were executed by the Board of Public Works. If it were not for the Marriott project, Redevelopment would not have the ability it does to benefit from that Mr. Nimtz noted that at the time the feeling was to fill the "hole ". If it hadn't been for th former Congressman John Brademas' assistance, we would never had received the UD G award. He noted that this project was a bid boom for downtown South Bend. Mrs. Allen asked how the skywalk would be connected to the Art Center without affecting th design of Century Center. Mr. Hill explained that the staff has worked wi th Johnson /Bargee Architects on the concept an design of the skywalk. Johnson / Burgee has ha representatives on site and believe that the skywalk can come into the second story -7-