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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting — November 10, 2014 <br />6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) <br />A. Public Hearings <br />(5) continued... <br />Ms. Jones: And then I did see a bullet on acquiring property. <br />Mr. Ford: So there's no immediate acquisition. If there ever were an interest to widen a <br />road and a need to acquire some right -of -way, then they can reach out to the property owner <br />start a conversation. We don't have any rights of eminent domain. <br />Mr. Conrad Damian: I'm here today on behalf of the Community Forum for Economic <br />Development. Our organization stands for justice and economic growth and seeks to find <br />ways to assure that expenditures in our city treat all citizens fairly and include all our <br />citizens in our economic growth and civility. Since our inception we have supported the <br />growth of economic opportunity on the west side of the city. Therefore, we are pleased that <br />the new alignment of the TIF district includes the Lincolnway West and Western Ave. <br />corridors. We are, however, concerned that these two areas, that these not be thought of <br />only as gateways to our city, but key elements of the stable neighborhoods around them. So <br />this prompts us to ask the question, why no parts of the surrounding residential areas are <br />included in the River West district. Why will neighborhoods with good housing for poor <br />and working class families are essential to making these corridors successful, bringing new <br />and improved businesses to support the residents of the neighborhood. Such businesses will <br />only want to invest if the neighborhoods near them are stable and have the infrastructure to <br />encourage good neighbors for these businesses. So, I have some not exactly rhetorical <br />questions, but questions that don't need an answer right now. How will the Redevelopment <br />Commission work with the city to provide infrastructure in these neighborhoods around the <br />corridors if they are not a part of the TIF? How will you be involved in the rehabilitation of <br />housing to stabilize these areas? If a CDC or private investor wishes to develop new <br />housing, how will you support the infrastructure improvements needed or the actual <br />improvement in housing? These new districts should reflect the needs of South Bend <br />residents as well as investors and builders. What will you do to help create responses to <br />needs not met by others, but needed to benefit your investments along the corridors? The <br />west side of our community has long been neglected. Our interest in the LaSalle Square <br />area has been longstanding. The continued improvement of this area is a key to the <br />revitalization of that particular area of our city. But so is the stabilization of the surrounding <br />neighborhoods. We are disappointed not to see more direct commitment by the Commission <br />to these residential neighborhoods. Thank you. <br />Mr. Damian: And now, speaking for myself, I live on Broadway Street which is on the near <br />southeast side. And we are in the same TIF district. Our neighborhood all the way down to <br />Ewing is part of the district, as is most of Rum Village. We as residents wonder, what is the <br />reason that we're involved in the TIF? Is it because you want to build housing for those <br />who are upper middle class and those who might be working in Ignition Park? Is it that you <br />want to do what you did on the northeast side? Or is my recent, fairly large investment in <br />19 <br />