08-26-09 Actions scheduled on East Bank, Howard Park plans

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assume ownership, its board could make long-term plans for development as well as raise funds privately to improve the facility. According to a proposed contract, Fire Arts would assume ownership on or before Oct. 1. “Fire Arts has been a vital part of the East Bank Village’s arts and cultural district. This action demonstrates the City of South Bend’s support for arts organizations in our community, which have a substantial impact on jobs, economic growth and quality of life in our community,” said Jeff Gibney, executive director of the City’s Department of Community and Economic Development. According to a 2007 Arts and Economic Prosperity III study by Americans for the Arts, nonprofit arts and culture generates $30.48 million annually in local economic activity in St. Joseph County. Consisting of $17.24 million in spending by arts organizations and another $13.24 million in event-related spending by audiences, this activity supports the full-time equivalent of 894 jobs in St. Joseph County. The arts in St. Joseph County generate $16.52 million in household income to local residents and deliver $2.52 million in revenue to local and state governments. “Selling the facility to Fire Arts also will help us strengthen the cultural district envisioned in the East Bank Village master plan,” Gibney said. Across the river from the central business district, the “East Bank Village” is considered part of the formal downtown area. It also is situated between the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University South Bend, and includes features such as Howard Park, the East Race Waterway and several major health-care institutions. “The East Race area of South Bend has the potential to become a strong, vibrant, urban neighborhood with an exciting mix of live-play uses that will be attractive to recent college graduates, young couples, retirees and the technology and arts communities,” according to the plan. The East Bank Village and Howard Park neighborhood master plans have developed in two phases: ?Phase 1, the East Bank Village, focuses on the East Bank north of Jefferson Boulevard to LaSalle Avenue and east to the alley between Hill Street and St. Louis Boulevard. ?Phase 2, the Howard Park neighborhood, follows the riverfront south from Jefferson to the Sample Street bridge. The master plan for the Howard Park neighborhood envisions an urban neighborhood featuring more than 80 new homes with riverfront vistas as well as improved riverwalk amenities with a more pedestrian-friendly area. The plan proposes expanded park space, where a cloverleaf now occupies valuable land near Northside Boulevard and Eddy Street. - 30 -