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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting -September 19, 2008 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br />C. Airport Economic Development Area <br />(3) continued... <br />but different niche than currently exists there. <br />Mr. Zahner noted that at the beginning of the <br />process many people wanted a large <br />supermarket and big box stores to locate at <br />LaSalle Square. However, they came to <br />realize that was unlikely and embraced the <br />idea of the square having a combined <br />community-serving, housing and <br />convenience retail functions. <br />Ms. Wolfson applauded the city for hearing <br />and recognizing the will of a wide variety of <br />people with different expertise than <br />traditional planners. LaSalle Square is a <br />symbol for the many other areas of the city <br />that need attention. Avery decisive thing <br />happened when the public library changed its <br />mind about continuing its branch at LaSalle <br />Square. The community people who were <br />involved intend to continue to exert pressure <br />to see that progress is made on this plan. She <br />expressed impatience, though, with the <br />timetable. She hopes it can move more <br />quickly and that we can do the same thing for <br />other blighted areas of the city. <br />Mr. Blake asked what the next steps are. Mr. <br />Kamicar responded that the immediate next <br />steps should be infrastructure improvements, <br />creating design guidelines, finding a senior <br />housing developer, and finding additional <br />development for the site. <br />Mr. Blake asked the consultants' level of <br />optimism that developers will be interested in <br />15 <br />