04-22-13 Community Relations & Residential Neighborhoods

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COMMUNITY RELATIONS & RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS APRIL 22, 2013 Community Relations Committee Members Present: Oliver Davis, Tim Scott Citizen Member Present: James Burns Residential Neighborhoods Committee Members: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Karen White, Oliver Davis Citizen Member Present: Chris Sopczynski Other Council Present: Gavin Ferlic, Henry Davis, Jr., Derek Dieter Others Present: Mark Neal, Rahman Johnson, Carol Davis, Jack Smith, Mike Schmuhl • Bill No. 14 -13 — Addresses Government Accountability on Buildings Declared Vacant or Abandoned • Bill No. 13 -18 — Calls for Moratorium on Buildings Which are not a Safety Hazard This joint committee hearing of the Community Relations and Residential Neighborhoods Committees was chaired by Oliver Davis. Full attendance of both Committees including the respective citizen members introduced by Oliver and Tim Scott was noted. The two items on the agenda both concerned Vacant & Abandoned Structures and were both sponsored by Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr. President Dieter suggested a joint hearing of the bills. Council Attorney Cekanski - Farrand endorsed that idea at the committee level, noting separate consideration would be required at the formal meeting. As stated above, Henry Davis sponsored the agenda items and asked Oliver if he could focus the presentation on Resolution No. 13 -18 first. With that granted, Henry started by saying we all want a healthy, thriving community. The problems the city faces with vacant & abandoned houses are the result of a myriad of societal problems all of which need to be recognized and addressed. By the resolution Henry asks a 60 day moratorium on the demolition of houses. These houses may harbor crime but are not the cause of crime. To tear houses down without a development plan for these areas is short sighted. He asked what plan, if any, the City has. Are there development incentives? Is there any vision beyond demolition? He said South Bend should focus on building up, not tearing down. Henry was critical of the Vacant & Abandoned Task Force from the outset because of its lack of inclusiveness and is critical of its findings now for its myopic focus on demolition without redevelopment. Henry said redevelopment plans have had success in other communities. Methods to access investment capital have been devised elsewhere, but we are not taking advantage of it here. A 60 day moratorium would allow this needed conversation to begin.