11-24-03 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 24, 2003 the northeast neighborhood and the City will work hand in hand with those people. The impact of State Road 23 is left to be seen. If that should happen, the City would like to work with it in terms of the overall plan. She noted that they do see a roll for the Redevelopment Commission to work with any decisions that have to be made along those lines. Councilmember Varner stated that the specific answer then is that this does not make it any easier. Ms. Hughes stated that he is correct and that they are very separate issues. Councilmember Pfeifer commended Ms. Hughes and Councilmember King and the NNRO for all the work they have done. She noted that they have gone to great lengths to make sure that everyone was at the table. Councilmember Pfeifer encouraged Ms. Hughes to continue communication with people who may feel that they still don't quite understand. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. Mr. Phil Byrd, South Bend Heritage Foundation and NNRO Coordinator, advised that the Plan before the Council tonight is the outgrowth of a number of plans developed over several years. A good portion of the current Redevelopment Plan is based on recommendations developed in 1998 and 1999 by the Neighborhood Housing Services and a number of consultants. Their effort was to work with the northeast residents with the goal of maintaining the uniqueness of the neighborhood while encouraging commercial and residential development while providing the framework to encourage development. The Redevelopment Plan strives to protect the neighborhood uniqueness and strong sense of community. The Plan is designed to address the issues relevant to economic growth. The Plan looks at some deterioration in housing trends, some disinvestment in the community and addresses those issues that hopefully will cause future investments. Mr. Richard Nussbaum, Attorney for the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, 210 South Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, advised that approximately four (4) years ago Councilmember King and Lou Nani of Notre Dame asked him to serve as attorney for this organization. One of the fruits of his work with this organization is what is happening this evening. Mr. Nussbaum commended the South Bend Heritage Foundation, the Redevelopment Commission of the City of South Bend and its staff, the Council through Councilmember King and all of the members of the NNRO which include neighborhood residents, institutions including the hospitals, Madison Center, University of Notre Dame and the City of South Bend. He stated that this Plan is a good thing for this area and is one part of the whole effort that is going on. There are a couple of new homes that are being built in the area and other homes that, are being revitalized. Mr. Nussbaum asked for the Council's continued support. Councilmember King advised that this process has been going on for a long time and there have been a lot of people involved. He stated that he is one of many who invested a great deal of effort and time and passion in this project. He stated that on the very day he was sworn in as a Councilmember he attended a meeting at Perley School in which the rough draft of the 1998 Plan was discussed and there have been countless meetings with many people over the last five (5) years. He stated that in his own work in the neighborhood he knows that there was broad support and enthusiasm in the neighborhood for this Plan which in the end is the key ingredient to success. In the end it is the people who live within the neighborhood that will make a revitalization work and he believes that that has been achieved and the will of the people who want to support this issue is captured in the Plan that was written by Ms. Hughes who he thanked and complimented for her effort. He noted that this has been an interesting project and it will be interesting to watch what things this will enable the neighborhood to achieve in the future. He stated that the City will be proud of it, will be pleased with the end results, and will be happy that the Council took this action. There was one else present wishing to speak in favor of this bill and there was no one present wishing to speak in opposition to this bill. Councilmember Kelly made a motion to adopt this Resolution. Councilmember King seconded the motion which carried and the Resolution was adopted by a roll call vote of nine (9) ayes. -29- 1_