08-12-02 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 12, 2002 BILL NO. 56 -02 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL TO VACATE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: THE FIRST ALLEY TO BE VACATED IS FIRST NORTH /SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF WALNUT STREET FROM LISTON STREET TO COLFAX AVENUE FOR A DISTANCE OF 103.25 FEET AND A WIDTH OF 16 FEET. THE SECOND ALLEY TO BE VACATED IS THE FIRST NORTH /SOUTH ALLEY WEST OF WALNUT STREET FROM LISTON STREET SOUTH TO THE FIRST EAST /WEST ALLEY FOR A DISTANCE OF 123.8 FEET AND A WIDTH OF 16 FEET. BOTH BEING A PART OF STUDEBAKER AND HINES' PLAT OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA Councilmember Varner reported that the Public Works and Property Vacation Committee held a Public Hearing on this bill this afternoon and sends it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Ms. Charlotte Sobel, Real Estate Development Director, South Bend Heritage Foundation, 803 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this bill. Ms. Sobel noted that South Bend Heritage is in the process of demolishing some dilapidated and fire damaged properties and is putting in new curbs, sidewalks and tree lawns at the present time. South Bend Heritage is asking that portions of two (2) alleys be vacated in order to replat the property. New construction will begin in the next year or two. Ms. Sobel noted that to the south of this property is the Spruce Street Subdivision where five (5) new homes have been built. At West Washington Place they built fifteen (15) new single family homes and immediately adjacent is West Washington Place Apartments which contain sixty -five (65) units of low income housing tax credits. In this immediate neighborhood, over the past ten (10) years, South Bend Heritage has invested in excess of $9 million in both private investment and public support from the City and the Council. Ms. Sobel asked for the Council's favorable consideration of this request. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Ms. Josephine Peaks, 1314 Hines Street, South Bend, Indiana, inquired how this vacation will affect her as her house sits on the right side of the alley. There was no one else present wishing to speak to the Council either in favor of or in opposition to this bill. In rebuttal, Ms. Sobel advised that the alley that is north of Colfax that intersects with Hine Street will not be closed. South Bend Heritage's work is entirely south of Colfax Avenue and there is no work being done on the north side of Colfax. She noted that Ms. Peaks was notified because she lives within the radius for notifying property owners of the proposed vacation. Councilmember Coleman made a motion for favorable recommendation to full Council concerning this bill. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. BILL NO. 54 -02 PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA TRANSFERRING FROM WATER WORKS BOND RESERVE FUND #628 TO WATER WORKS CAPITAL FUND #622 THE SUM OF $2,168,000 AND -2- 1 1 I,I I