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Area Board of Zoning Appeals—December 5, 2012 <br /> MR. HENRY DAVIS JR.: Second district Councilman. I live at 5117 Idlewood Drive, South Bend. I'm <br /> speaking in favor of the business corning into the downtown area. We have a lot of economic disparities in <br /> downtown South Bend as it relates to the vacancy rate as well as the diversification of the businesses in the <br /> downtown area. Over the past couple of years we've suffered huge losses and still are suffering losses as it <br /> relates to the Chase Tower. As it relates also the College Football Hall of Fame and we can go on down <br /> Wayne Street as well to see how vacant that is. I think that bringing a business down to South Bend, Indiana <br /> downtown could excite,will excite more people to come down. We've always and we've tried to pride <br /> ourselves of being welcoming community. We pride ourselves of being 21"century community. All <br /> America city and we can't continue to miss out on opportunities to help grow entrepreneurship in the city. <br /> Or even our tax base. Again we're suffering quite a bit. And the traffic this may bring could potentially help <br /> out with some of the things we're trying to address with bringing more foot traffic downtown, bringing more <br /> revenue downtown and making sure that all the other businesses can gain for the traffic that this may <br /> produce. Per our conversation about how it may be an element that may follow behind it. I'm here to say <br /> that I have two piercing right now,both of my ears. I don't wear my earrings anymore but I still have them, <br /> my ears are pierced.And also I have a brand on my arm from a fraternity. And so I am also an elected <br /> official. So when we were talking about stigmas and walk this line about who this may bring in,their money <br /> will spend just as well and my money spends as well as your money spends inside of a bar,restaurant. Even <br /> if one wanted to buy property and even if I wanted to invest my money in a credit union or bank, it still <br /> spends the same. As a district councilman and also a resident of the City of South Bend I support businesses <br /> in the City of South Bend for that very reason. We just missed another opportunity a couple of weeks ago <br /> when we have a store that wanted to expand on Western Ave. How to we continue to tell businesses no <br /> when we say we need more and so as an economic multiplier affect as much as we can get more small <br /> businesses to our central business district and into our neighborhoods, I'm for it. I am for it. We have a <br /> substation that I participated in making sure it got downtown to make sure that we've rid the perception of <br /> crime in the downtown area. So I don't see an element of crime potentially in the area. And work with <br /> downtown South Bend as well to make sure that we marketing and advertising properly. Not only to the <br /> residents of South Bend but also the larger audience which is the world. So we have all of the tools and all <br /> the fences in place to make sure that we able to enforce proper City codes but also to welcome other people <br /> in our community that may necessary feel the part or want to even come in. So I ask for your favorable <br /> recommendation on this matter. Thank you. <br /> REMONSTRANCE <br /> MS. INGRID MATHIS: First Source Bank, 100 N. Michigan, south Bend, Indiana. And obviously I am <br /> here on behalf of First Source Bank. I work in the administrative services department of the bank and part of <br /> charter in this department is to lease space in downtown South Bend, vacant space that the bank is unable to <br /> use for itself. And we've been very successful in doing that by grouping complimentary businesses together <br /> in our buildings and our tenants stay long term. While we support the growth of small businesses we also <br /> recommend that it be done with common sense and a purpose with consideration being given to the <br /> surrounding businesses and the culture that it serves in the downtown Central Business District. The <br /> immediate downtown area surrounding this proposed business, as many of you know is flanked by two major <br /> 24 <br />