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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting -August 1, 2008 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br />E. Northeast Neighborhood Development Area <br />There was no business in the Northeast <br />Neighborhood Development Area. <br />F. Douglas Road Economic Development Area <br />There was no business in the Douglas Road <br />Economic Development Area. <br />G. Ratification of Services Contracts <br />There were no Service Contracts to be ratified. <br />H. Other <br />Mr. Varner noted that there has been much <br />enthusiasm for the potential of the Tech Park and <br />MIND research park. Though he hopes the two <br />parks achieve the success that has been touted, he <br />wanted to note for the record that there are some <br />tech parks that have had such hopes unrealized. <br />He offered two articles, one about a tech park in <br />DuPage County, Illinois, associated with Northern <br />Illinois, associated with Argonne National <br />Laboratories, associated with the University of <br />Chicago, and with the Fermi National Accelerator <br />Laboratory. Those are some of the most <br />prestigious, well-known, well-funded institutions <br />in America. Yet, this tech park, after three years, <br />has not taken off. The anticipation was that there <br />would be $SOOM of development. <br />The Commission needs to look realistically at the <br />possibilities. We need to be realistic about a <br />timeline for the nanotechnology spin-off <br />development. South Bend should be prepared to <br />make its investment only when it is needed, not <br />speculatively. <br />16 <br />