RM 02-14-86 - Laserfiche WebLink

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South Bend edevelopment Commission Regular Meeting - February 14, 1986. 6. NEW BUSINESS (Cont.) a. Con inuect.. . 6. A certified copy of Resolution No. 1398 -86 of the Common Council of the City of South Bend relative to the subject of the Public Hearing. 7. A copy of Resolution No. 762 of the Redevelopment Commission with a copy of the Development Plan attached. Mrs Kolata added that there were no written r nstrances received as of 10:00 a.m., February 14, 1986. Witli no objections heard, the Chair entered the items for public hearing into the record. Mr. K.C. Pocius presented the evidence of blight. Mr. Pocius explained that the staff has conducted a thorough study of the Stu ebaker Corridor area, and has determined that. the area is in a slum and blighted condition such that it can not be corrected by the ordinary regulatory process or by private investment. This determination is based on five principal conditions. The first condition is that over half of the total square footage of buildings in the entire Studebaker Corridor area is vacant or underutilized. (Approximately 2.3 million out of a total of 4.8 million square feet is vacant or underutilized.) This condition is printarily worse in the north section of the co lex where it is approximately 60% vacant or underutilized. Another major condition of slum and blight in the main plant complex area is the condition of the buildings themselves. In 1982 Ma ews- Purucker Anella Architects rated all the buildings in this area on the conditions of the exterior walls, ceiling, roof, exterior ped strian/service area doors and the window units. This was updated in the summer of 1985 by the Redevelopment staff. It was found that 46% of all of the old Studebaker buildings werE deteriorated in terms of their exterior condition. About 1/3 of the buildings were classified as being in either poor or very pooi condition. There again is a higher -5-