05-23-16 Council Agenda and Packet

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April 14, 2016 Area Plan Commission of St. Joseph County 1140 County -City Building 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46601 Dear Area Plan, I support the petition submitted by Indiana Landmarks to rezone the historic Kizer house at 803 W. Washington from its current multi - family zoning to a mixed use zoning to allow use for office, meeting space and housing. Kizer house is a large building on a relatively small parcel and therefore in order to proceed with its redevelopment, a parking variance from the required 30 on -site spaces to 13 and use of existing and created on- street parking is necessary. Therefore I also support the parking variance that was submitted by Indiana Landmarks. It is my understanding that the street parking will be available to more than just the Kizer house, particularly since some of the counted parking spaces are directly in front of other businesses and in front of the History Museum. I have lived three short blocks from the Kizer house since 1979 and have seen its neglect and dubious uses over the past 37 years. (I witnessed the fire all those many years ago.) I am very pleased that an established and respected organization, Indiana Landmarks, has taken the project under its care. Their work on the Kizer house and long term plan for its use and management will make a major, positive impact on the neighborhood. It is my hope that they will be able to keep the number of tenants to a minimum but also generate a positive operating cash flow for the building. The Kizer house is in a very visible and prominent location in our neighborhood. It is very exciting that at last it will return to a use and conditio i thaWk TCft Se � west side neighborhood. Sincerely, E11A8 Dea Jean Andrews KAREEMAH FOWLER 223 N. Scott Street I CrTYCL.ERK. SOUTH BEND, IN South Bend, IN 46601 FILED APR 15 2016 AREA PLAN COMMISSION