05-28-09 Agency sees economic impact from historic preservation

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Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE Thursday, May 28, 2009 11:00 am Agency sees economic impact from historic preservation Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 or Jeff Gibney, executive director of Community and Economic Development, 235-9371 A national competition has recognized efforts by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and the City’s Department of Community and Economic Development to spur on economic development through the historic preservation of landmark facilities. These two City of South Bend entities have been named as a finalist in the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s 2009 Excellence in Economic Development Awards in the category, Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Economic Development. The EDA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The City’s nomination detailed efforts to expand economic spending, create jobs and foster additional investment in redevelopment dating back to the restorations of the Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Royale Ballroom. It also highlighted new efforts, such as the combination of restoration and new construction at American Trust Place, 101 N. Michigan St., and the adaptive reuse of the former Engman Natatorium as the new Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center. “For more than three decades, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and the Department of Community and Economic Development have served as a visionary catalyst and funding agent for historic preservation that seeks to boost South Bend’s economy,” the application said. “Working in tandem and drawing in hosts of partners, public and private, these two public bodies have worked behind the scenes at targeted redevelopment efforts for the city, especially drawing from communitywide expertise in historic preservation and restoration.” For the Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Royale alone, a 2007 economic impact study showed that those two facilities would generate nearly $5.9 million indirectly that year to downtown South Bend restaurants, hotels and businesses. “The initial community investment in preservation has created a powerful engine to drive downtown economic development in South Bend,” wrote Dennis J. Andres, executive director of the Morris and Palais Royale.