Transfer of Property at 1733 East Northside Blvd from the Park Department

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SUBSTITUTE: p / ORDINANCE NO. FAT-A8 7 / AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, CONCERNING THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY AT 1733 EAST NORTHSIDE BOULEVARD FROM THE PARK DEPARTMENT/PARK BOARD TO THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY 2402 EAST ROSE STREET STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The City of South Bend, Indiana received certain lands by way of Warranty Deed dated October 31, 1951, such lands being deeded to the City for the use of its Park Department and/or Board of Park Commissioners. On May 18, 1952, the Park Board executed with the United States of America, a fifty (50) year Land Lease for a portion of said lands, to be used by the United States of America for construction and occupancy of an organized reserve corps armory building and appurtenances, which structures were subsequently constructed. That portion of the lands deeded to the City that was leased to the United States of America is more commonly known as the Northside Boulevard Armory. The City of South Bend has been engaged in discussions with the United States Army concerning its vacation of the Northside Boulevard Armory and relocation to another facility within the City of South Bend prior to the expiration of the Land Lease. The Army is consolidating reserve units and needs a larger reserve facility. The City owns another property ( "Maple Lane" ) , a former elementary school given to the City in 1988 by the South Bend Community School Corporation. Maple Lane, if upgraded, would suit the Army' s reserve facility needs. Relocating the reserve center to a new location that is also within the City' s boundaries would serve the City' s and community' s interests. An added bonus from the relocation of the Army to Maple Lane is the early release by the Army of its leasehold to Northside and the possibility of making Northside available to IUSB for expansion of its campus. Expansion of the IUSB campus would be a tremendous economic and educational boon to the City and community. The Army proposed a property exchange - the release of its leasehold and title to the improvements it had constructed at Northside in exchange for fee title to Maple Lane. Additionally, the Army proposed the upgrading of Maple Lane, with the release of the leasehold and conveyance of Maple Lane to occur upon the completion of the improvements by the City. The Community Foundation of St. Joseph County, formerly the Civic Foundation, a private not-for profit corporation organized under and operating pursuant to the laws of the State of Indiana, has been interested in facilitating the expansion of IUSB for sometime and has taken an interest in the Army Reserve project as well. It has been determined to involve the Foundation in this project because of its long-standing interest and because it was felt that the Foundation could undertake the construction project on a quicker, and therefore less costly basis.