26-09 Resolution Approving the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of South Bend, the County of St. Joseph, and the Michiana Area Council of Governments Establishing a Land Bank Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 36-7-38 et seq.

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2/23/26,4:22 PM MACOG Mail-FW:Support for Resolution Bill 88-25 and Ordinance 87-25 From: Kathy Schuth Filed in Clerk's Office Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2026 4:18 PM To: 'cocouncil@sjcindiana.gov' <cocouncil@sjcindiana.gov> Mar 20, 2026 Subject: Support for Resolution Bill 88-25 and Ordinance 87-25 Bianca Iirado Cite Clerk South Rend. IN To: St. Joseph County Council Subject: Formal Support for Resolution Bill 88-25 and Ordinance 87-25(County Land Bank) Dear Council Members, I am writing to you today on behalf of the Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN)to express our strong and urgent support for the establishment of the St. Joseph County Land Bank.As a Community Development Corporation (CDC) dedicated to the revitalization of South Bend for over 50 years, we see this initiative as the single most important tool currently missing from our community's development toolkit. The NNN has long focused on turning vacant lots and blighted properties into high-quality, affordable homes. However, our progress, as well as what we hear from other private and non-for-profit developers, is frequently stalled by the "limbo"of property ownership wrapped up in title issues, tax sales, or under exemptions for organizations that no longer exist. We are currently forced to navigate a fragmented system where title issues and years of delinquent taxes make redevelopment cost-prohibitive or legally impossible. Land control is always the first barrier to remove in a development project. A County Land Bank would change that in three transformative ways: strategic land control, clearing title barriers, and maximizing opportunities such as the Lilly Endowment Investment into the Regional Housing Collaborative. I am aware that this measure has been tabled twice previously due to concerns regarding legal costs and interest from the development community.As a nonprofit developer, I want to be clear: There is ready demand for this program and the local development community has asked local government to create this tool. The NNN and our fellow housing partners are eager to utilize this system to put properties back on the tax rolls and provide homes for our neighbors. Furthermore,the administrative and legal framework proposed through MACOG ensures these costs are managed responsibly,far outweighed by the long-term tax revenue generated by returned properties. Kathy Schuth Executive Director Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc. 1007 Portage Ave. South Bend, IN 46616 (574)232-9182 nnndirector@nearnorthwest.org www.nearnorthwest.org https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=b6d9d3b39e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1857950956178110843&simpl=msg-f:18579509561781108... 1/1