Approving & Adopting Text Amendments to the South Bend Central Development Area Plan

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Downtown has broadened its efforts to maintain and build on its position as the cultural and entertainment center of the region. The Morris Civic Auditorium, Century Center, Studebaker Museum, Northern Indiana Center for History, South Bend Civic Theater, South Bend Public Library, and the South Bend Museum of Art provide a rich diversification of cultural activities. Numerous other facilities add to the entertainment and recreational offerings of the downtown. These include Coveleski Stadium, Sietz Park, and a variety of restaurants and nightclubs. The St. Joseph River, which was a major influence in the early development of South Bend due to its transportation and industrial uses, remains as a key element in current and future development of the downtown. Today, the visual, recreational and residential amenities provided by the river are stressed in development planning. The convention and tourist trade has also taken an important position in the identity of downtown. The development of Century Center, two major hotel chains, and various bed and breakfasts have supported a growing convention and tourism industry that has brought hundreds of thousands of people annually into South Bend with the potential for further growth. Numerous local, state and federal government functions coupled with a solid core of occupied office space, creates an impetus for a variety of related activities which occur in the downtown and offering market potentials created by a significant population of downtown workers. 2. East Bank Defined as the area across from the Central Business District and on the East Bank of the St. Joseph River, the East Bank has seen growing investment interest since the reopening of the East Race Waterway in 1984. This recreational facility, the nation's first urban waterway, has since been complimented by the location for both corporate headquarters (AM General and Underwriters Laboratories), artist outlets (Circa Arts and Fire Arts). Following the completion of a comprehensive plan process that led to the establishment of the East Bank Village Master Plan, upscale residential units have been completed in the form of the East Bank and River Race Townhomes. 3. Monroe Park Located East of South Michigan Street and South of Monroe Street, the Monroe Park neighborhood declined starting during the 1950's through the 1970's characterized by losses in population and the number of housing units and an increase in the number of non - residential uses. Once the area was declared a redevelopment area and a number of activities were begun to clearly identify residential, industrial and commercial portions of Monroe Park, this led to creation of the Monroe Industrial Park and attraction of several light industrial businesses. B. . P ose For over forty years the City of South Bend, Indiana has undertaken an aggressive, innovative,