09-11-14 Redevelopment Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting—September 11,2014 • 4. COMMUNICATIONS There were no Communications. 5. OLD BUSINESS There was no Old Business. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. South Bend Central Development Area (1) Memorandum of Understanding—Swing Batter Swing LLC Mr. Relos explained the MOU covers a batting cage facility at the Cove. The facility will be owned and operated by Swing Batter Swing, LLC, owner of the South Bend Silver Hawks. It will be open year round and available for public use when not being used for training by the team. The MOU is between the Parks Department, Board of Public Works (BPW), the Redevelopment Commission, and Swing Batter Swing, LLC. Parks currently owns the property where the facility will be constructed but the property will be transferred to the BPW in early October. Once the parcel is added to the Commission's acquisition list,the BPW will transfer it to the Commission where it will go through the disposition process and • ultimately transferred to Swing Batter Swing, LLC. At the same time, the surrounding property will be subdivided. Parcels in this block are owned by Parks and some by the Commission. In addition, the zoning varies from parcel to parcel. We intend to bring a professional services contract to the Commission which will allow us to consolidate/update ownership and zoning in an effort to facilitate future development potential on the block. The Swing Batter Swing project will be privately funded and encompass approximately 17,700 gross square feet. It will contain 6 indoor tunnels, 2 regulation pitching mounds, and an observation deck. It is estimated to cost about $1M to construct. The facility will enhance the Cove,the team and the larger region. Staff requests Commission approval of this project. Mr. Dave Rafinski from JPR distributed a proposed site plan, floor plan, and conceptual renderings. Mr. Joe Hart from the South Bend Silver Hawks commented the addition of the facility will lengthen the duration of the team's activities in downtown from 5.5 months to about 12 months annually. Normally, a team would only build a facility with 2 batting cages. The larger facility allows for more community year round use. Mr. Wruble asked about the future of the Major League affiliation. Mr. Hart noted the Silver Hawks contract was up with the Arizona Diamondbacks, so they are free to talk with other teams in the next couple weeks. The Diamondbacks have been wonderful to work with, but it may be nice to connect with a more local team if possible. All of the recent improvements • to the Cove will help to attract other teams. 3