Laserfiche WebLink
CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – March 12, 2026 <br /> <br />Page | 9 <br /> <br />businesses such as Cloud Walking Coffee have opened nearby, showing <br />continued growth and investment in the district. <br /> <br />The Qualex building has been a long-standing eyesore and has a negative <br />impact on this area. The structure has significant damage, including a <br />failing roof and collapsing walls, and has not been properly maintained. It <br />has been vacant for decades and is under a court order for demolition <br />due to its severe condition. This building represents an active public <br />health and safety hazard. <br /> <br />The City has made repeated efforts over the years to work with various <br />property owners to bring the site into compliance. Unfortunately, the <br />property has been caught in a recurring tax sale cycle. The current <br />owner has stopped responding to the City, has not paid property taxes, <br />and has taken no action to address the building’s condition. If the <br />Redevelopment Commission approves this demolition, the City would <br />place the cost of demolition as a lien on the property. If unpaid, that lien <br />could eventually allow the City or the RDC to acquire property. The City <br />is also exploring other legal avenues to gain control of the site. <br />This demolition would remove serious safety concerns, protect recent <br />public investments in the Mishawaka Avenue Market District, and <br />support redevelopment opportunities adjacent to the former YMCA site. <br />For the demolition itself, bids have already been opened by the Board of <br />Public Works. The requested $500,000 budget includes a contingency, <br />and we do not anticipate needing additional funding. If approved, bids <br />are expected to be awarded on March 24, with demolition beginning in <br />mid-April. The contract completion date is July 3. <br /> <br />Commissioner Shaw asked how quickly the demolition could take place. <br />Zach Hurst, Senior Project Engineer from the Department of Public <br />Works stated that bids were opened on Tuesday at the Board of Public <br />Works meeting. We anticipate awarding the bid at the next meeting on <br />March 24. Assuming approval, we expect the contractor to mobilize and <br />begin demolition in mid-April and expected completion by July 3, 2026. <br /> <br />Vice President Relos asked are there any environmental concerns? Has a <br />Phase I or Phase II environmental assessment been completed, and do <br />we know what the demolition contractor may encounter, particularly <br />related to contamination? The site previously housed photo processing <br />operations, so there may be concerns about contaminated soil. Mr. Hurst <br />responded, there is potential for environmental issues, particularly <br />related to soil contamination, which is the largest unknown at this point. <br />A contingency is built into the demolition contract to address any <br />environmental conditions that may be discovered during demolition. An