6.B.(1) Staff Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Located in the two square block area between William, Western, Lafayette and Wayne, the twelve parcels identified above house the former Gates Toyota Sales lot and sales building, the current Gates Service Center building, the former Schilling's Camera store building, and the Nor Systems Inc. Computer Store building. The purpose for placing these properties on the acquisition list at this time is twofold. First, the Coveleski Park plan has identified the North Development Block for mixed use development and the action to add the properties to the acquisition list would be consistent with the plan. The vacation of the Gates Toyota sales and service use from the site coupled with the vacation of the Schilling's building would allow for a large percentage of the area to be acquired in the event that a large format user were to be interested in an urban location. The total area of the Development Block is about 5.8 acres and would be a great complement site to the smaller 3.2 acre East Development Block located on the former Studebaker Museum block between Lafayette and Main. The second reason for placing the properties on the list now is to allow for controlled acquisition in this area. The former Gates Toyota building and sales lot and the former Schillings building sit vacant and deteriorating. Due to changes in his business model, the Fred's Transmission property will soon be vacant. The opportunity to acquire and control these sites, in addition to the land acquisition already done by the Commission on the south side of Western Avenue, allows for a more controlled site area as we begin the process of approaching developers and builders about opportunities in this area. Additionally, with the ownership of these properties, we can also begin to implement other project goals like streetscape planning, two way traffic conversion and other plan elements. SUMMARY Staff would request that the Commission direct staff to develop the appropriate documentation to begin the public process to add 17 parcels to the acquisition list for the South Bend Central Development Area. The majority of the properties proposed for addition to the acquisition list are properties identified within the Coveleski Park plan and the inclusion of The Manor parcels are consistent with the larger redevelopment goals for William Street of removing buildings with inconsistent land uses. The amendment is reasonable and appropriate when considered in relation to the plan and the development goals of the South Bend Central Development Area.