02-28-13 Redevelopment Commission Minutes.docx

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting—February 28, 2013 6. NEW BUSINESS B. Airport Economic Development Area (6) continued... their extra food on sharing shelves or took it to market to fundraise for Unity Gardens. Our outdoor classroom that we've heavily invested in shows people how to compost properly, how to use food and yard waste, and make them into a valuable commodity. We have rain barrels that show how to preserve water. Then there is our Summer Kids program and Jr. Master Gardening program that might accidentally have been the most important thing we've ever created. We've engaged children from Beacon Heights. Class is every Saturday with hours from l Oam to 12pm. We do a gardening activity, an edible activity, and a craft. At first they would come over at noon which is when the class ended, however, by the end of the program, they were arriving at 9:30 a.in ., ready to start. At the Luau, they were giving tours to others. They also gave a group of volunteer Notre Dame Students a tour, and showed how much fun nasturtiums could be, not only by creating a beautiful salad, but also what it tasted like. As those who are usually learning became engaged in positive community action, they then became the mentors of college students. We are growing venues for neighbors to gather around different gardens. There is tremendous broad community support for this program. She thanked the Commission for its support in this project. Mr. Varner commended Ms. Stewart for the phenomenal growth and community benefit that Unity Garden has accomplished. Ms. Schey asked whether the longer term and additional relocation benefits would be put into a contract. Mr Inks responded that it will be a contractual agreement, paying only on actual costs of relocation. Upon a motion by Ms. Schey, seconded by Mr. Varner and unanimously carried, the Commission approved the Agreement for AEP to bring electric to Unity Garden, to extend the time frame to 15 years, and to increase the relocation payment to $20,000 for the Unity Gardens @ LaSalle Square. B. West Washington-Chapin Development Area There was no business in the West Washington-Chapin Development Area. D. South Side Development Area (1) Amendment to Accepted Counter-Offer with Caroline Partners/ Gates Realty. Mr. Schalliol noted that the original agreement between the Commission and Gates dates back to June 13, 2007. It created a framework between the partners in which both parties were going to acquire, clear and transfer land between the partners to provide right-of-way 10