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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UNIVERSITY OF Cie NOTRE DAME OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS Timothy D.Sexton 405 Main Building,Notre Dame,Indiana 46556-5602 USA Associate Vice President fbr Public Affairs telephone(574)631-1785 tell(574)274-3373 email sexton.30(tOd.edu February 23, 2026 Filed in Clerk's Office St. Joseph County Council Mar 20, 2026 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. Bianca Tirado South Bend, IN 46601 City Clerk, South Bend, IN Dear Members of the St. Joseph County Council, On behalf of the University of Notre Dame, I am writing to express our strong support for the first step in establishing a Regional Land Bank serving St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall Counties. As an institution deeply committed to the flourishing of our local community, we recognize this initiative as a vital tool for neighborhood stabilization and economic revitalization. The challenge of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties is one that affects the entire region. Too often, distressed properties become trapped in a cycle of tax delinquency and decline, failing to sell at tax sales and remaining a burden on public resources. A Regional Land Bank provides a proven "off-ramp" for these hardest cases, allowing for the strategic acquisition, stabilization, and repositioning of property for productive use. Our support for this initiative is rooted in its fiscal and social practicality. By interrupting the cycle of vacancy, the Land Bank replaces an annual public cost of at least $3,000 per distressed property with a proactive system for redevelopment and nonprofit housing partnership. This strategy represents a one-time investment in regional stability, bolstered by a permanent endowment and grant funding that ensures long-term operational sustainability without placing a perpetual burden on the county budget. The University of Notre Dame believes that a healthy, vibrant St. Joseph County is essential for all who live and work here. The establishment of this Regional Land Bank represents a modest, one-time investment that will yield significant dividends in property values, public safety, and neighborhood pride. We respectfully urge the County Council to approve the necessary steps to bring this regional partnership to fruition. Sincerely,