11-10-14 Redevelopment Commission Minutes

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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — November 10, 2014 6. NEW BUSINESS (CONT.) A. Public Hearings (5) continued... Mr. Ford: Lynn, I appreciate your comments. I'd say first of all, to your question about what's going to happen when, starting this winter through the next two or three years you're going to see the improvements on Lincolnway West, the restriping on Western, the addition of street trees, the construction of bus shelters. Ms. Collier: We didn't ask for street trees. We know you put trees in the middle of the street already and nobody takes care of them. We didn't say nothing about street trees. Mr. Ford: So, a number of people who attended a dozen or so meetings did request street trees. So, the Ambassador Program, the facade grants will take off, as well as zoning. You've heard a number of people talk about the conditions of the buildings along Western Avenue and Lincolnway West. Getting the zoning right, improving the zoning, will help address a lot of those key issues about the quality of buildings. Also, in the next two years, the improvements and expansion of the cemetery. In the mid -term, the additional work being done will be the parks and construction of the trail, and then you'll start to get the redevelopment opportunities at those nodes. That's a three to five year window. Then, after that, you get larger developments from there. In terms of outreach, in numerous neighborhood meetings, we always try to get to improve on that same point. I don't think anyone really accused us, or others in the department of holding up on the 14th floor. I've been to neighborhood association meetings all throughout the city. We'll continue to do so. I've enjoyed that opportunity to work with residents in their neighborhood and will continue to do so. I know that working with Cherri Peate and the South Bend staff team, I think at the LaSalle Park meeting we were able to map out every issue about everything from a missed pickup from Solid Waste to a broken street light. We have all that information and we're looking at ways that we can make sure to carry that level of information throughout the city so people can understand how they are being served and where those services are, perhaps, exceeding expectations and where they are falling short. Ms. Bridges: I don't know if you can hear me, but they were talking about a bike trail along Western Avenue. That's something we don't need. We can't hardly get on Western Avenue as it is. Mr. David Buggs: Good morning. Just a couple of questions. The buildings on Western Avenue, particularly from the area of the Kroc investment and the stadium, down to the viaduct at Walnut. Those buildings have been there and abandoned for decades. Now, I understand because of Ignition Park, because of the Kroc Center, because of the stadium, there has to be plans for that area. I'm sure that maybe someone can articulate today what's going to happen to that area. You can look around and all four points, north, south, east, and west, and there's nothing so underdeveloped on Western Avenue leading into the city. So, if 24