04-09-05 Informal Meeting Common Council

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r r would be more fair and it would not be subsidized as much. Dr. Varner suggested that this be a part of the agreement since there has been a substantial cost to South Bend. He further noted that it this does not work out, six (6) not-for-profits, plus Bosch will have benefited. He also believes that the comments of Commissioner Ross should be carefully considered. He further suggested that when decisions are being made that the Councils should be involved. Mayor Luecke stated that there is significant value in the fibers. Having the city receive a percentage would result in higher rates. The Mayor stated that the benefit to the community is the link would may eventually create jobs and investments. At this point Council President Pfeifer recessed the Informal Council meeting for five (5) minutes. Portage Prairie: At approximately 11:15 a.m., Council President Pfeifer reconvened the Informal Council meeting, and called upon representatives of the Portage Prairie proposal for the Adams Road-German Township area to make a presentation. She reminded the people in attendance that only questions from elected officials and department heads would be permitted. Doug Hunt of Holladay Properties with offices at 227 South Main in downtown South Bend introduced Frank Perri and then addressed the Council. He noted that John Phair is out of town. Mr. Hunt stated that Holladay Properties began their operations in Washington, D.C. in 1952. Today their headquarters is in downtown South Bend where they have been since 1978, with offices also located in Indianapolis, Nashville, Florida, Louisville and northwest Indiana. Holladay Properties is the largest non-governmental, non-hospital corporation located in the city. They have invested over$11 million in the South Bend area and $45 million in the county; and pay over$1.8 million per year in taxes. Mr. Hunt stated that their land development projects in Indianapolis is the Ameriplex Center which created 4,000 jobs and was an investment of $350 million. Ameriplex at the Port in Portage, Indiana is also another of their major land development projects. They also are involved in the Purdue Research Park in Merrillville,Indiana. Mr. Hunt and Mr. Perri then presented a power point presentation on the proposed Portage Prairie Project. He reviewed Holladay's goals and issues, noting that they were approached by Waggoner heirs approximately 1 1/2 years ago for the 500 acre site. He then reviewed their design philosophy of bring alot of people together in nine (9) work sessions in October and November of 2004. He then reviewed the "context area"bounded by Bertrand, Portage, Quince and Edison. He stated that it is an excellent regional location with linkage to 1-94. He then reviewed: the character and history of the area; factors driving the plan; residential trends; major employee locations; and utility proximities. He stated that the project should not compete with the downtown assets, but be complimentary. He stated that the project should have a "wow" factor. Transportation planning must also be coordinated and many acres will be dedicated to research networking. The master plan also includes an"opportunity site". Mr. Hunt showed proposed site maps of proposed uses and summarized "smart growth" features from the website sss.smartgrowth.org. He stated that the tax and economic impact would be: April 9,2005 Informal Meeting of the South Bend Common Council -page 3-