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Home My WebLink About09-2010 NewsletterTH,�� SO U B E N D j ter. SEPTEMBER 2010 Letter from the Mayor Reducing vacant and abandoned houses Dear Friends and Neighbors, Like other communities around the country, we have hundreds of vacant and abandoned homes. These structures are dangerously deteriorated — they are not candidates for rehab. In fact, they are a blight on our neighborhoods and a potential source of crime. In my 2007 State of the City address, I announced a plan to achieve a 10 percent reduction in vacant housing in three years. Using federal funds, we would demolish 400 substandard houses citywide. At the same time, the South Bend Common Council proposed a vacant house registration ordinance. The ordinance requires registration of any home that is vacant for more than 90 days and in violation of existing code regulations (if there are not ongoing efforts to market, sell or renovate the property). Soon after, the economy plunged into its worst financial crisis in a generation, heavily influenced by trouble in the housing market. Our nation's homeownership rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1999, according to the Census Bureau. Despite these challenges, I'm happy to report progress on our goals Through the end of 2010, we will have demolished more than 500 vacant and abandoned homes — 25 percent more than we originally projected. We eliminated the worst of the worst. While lots still remain in the hands of neglectful owners, at least these structures no longer negatively impact our neighborhoods. The Council also enacted a vacant house registration ordinance. Even as our demolition efforts proceeded, our Code Enforcement staff registered 166 newly vacant or abandoned houses in 2010. This signals that our work on this front will continue in 2011. Demolition of vacant houses will continue unabated. In addition, our Code crews will update a citywide count of vacant and abandoned houses. We also will take a fresh look at strategies to reduce the impact of this national crisis on our neighborhoods. We believe that improvements on the street will help lead to a turnaround in private investment in our neighborhoods. Sincerely, Visit Our Website at Mayor Steve ` ww.SouthSendIN.gov! This Month Mayor's Letter Events Calendar Fall Fun in the Parks Kid's Fest South Bend Home Improvement Program Lunch and Learn Series Composting Workshop and Pre -Sale Events Calendar Morris Performing Arts Center Oct. 2- South Bend Symphony Orchestra "With One Voice" with Jorge Muniz Oct. 3- Straight No Chaser Oct. 3- Justin Williams With the Rebecca Wilson Trio(a, Palais Royale Oct. 17 -South Bend Symphony Chamber Orchestra Oct. 23- South Bend Symphony Pops with James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band Oct. 21 - "Me & Mrs. Jones" Stage Play Oct. 30- Mike Epps and Friends Center for History Oct. 8 and 15- The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (Liberty Film Series) Oct. 22 and 29- Unchained Memories (Liberty Film Series) Oct. 8 -15- Mystery at the Mansion: The Muessel Brewery Murders South Bend Farmer's Market Sept. 18- Fall Festival South Bend Museum of Art Oct. 1- Exhibition Reception for Surface Tension: Tradition and Innovation in Contemporary Painting Oct. 13- Off the Wall, Making a SPLASH... Having a BASH South Bend Civic Theater Oct. 8 -17- Born Yesterday Oct. 29 -Nov 7- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Studebaker Museum Oct. 1- Studebaker National Museum Car Raffle Football Friday's Block Party Every Friday night, 5 -9 PM before every Notre Dame Home football game. 100 N. Michigan St. near the College Football Hall of Fame. Admission is just $3. Kids, 12 and under are free. Century Center Oct. 3 Century Bride Event Oct. 5 College & Career Fair, October 5, 5:30 pm Oct. 5 Bo Bice, American Idol Finalist In Concert, 7:00pm Fall Fun in the Parks • Zoo Boo at Potawatomi Zoo: Oct. 22 & 23, 6 -9pm Little Zoo Boo - kids 7 and under: 0 ct.25 noon -4pm • Fall Family Equestrian Ride: Oct. 16, 11:00 -1:00, 1:15 -3:15, or 4:30 -6:30 at Potato Creek State Park Pre— registration is required. Register online at sbpark.org For information about any of these events please call the SB Parks & Recreation Department at 299 -4768 ext. 239 or visit the website sbpark.org. Is your house in need of repair? Look no further, the South Bend Home Improvement Program ( SBHIP) can help South Bend single family homeowners by providing assistance with certain approved home repairs including, roof, furnace, electrical, or plumbing. The SBHIP also helps with exterior structural repairs that will make a positive impact on the neighborhood. Applicants may be eligible for either a grant or a loan/grant combination to fund the approved repairs on their home. The first step in the eli- gibility process is to meet the total household income requirements. However, there are other eligibility factors that also apply. Applicants that are eligible for a full grant may receive up to $17,000 in repairs. If the cost of approved repairs exceeds the $17,000 grant amount, an additional $5,000 can be awarded in the form of a due - upon -sale mortgage loan which is payable when the owner sells the house, no longer resides in the home, or upon death. 3rd Annual Halloween Kid's Fest Think your ghouls and goblins could use a little Trick or Treat practice in their costumes, before Halloween? The Community Oriented Policing Leadership Council, South Bend Police Dept. Crime Prevention Unit, St. Joseph County Police Dept., and the South Bend Fire Dept. are sponsoring the 3rd Annual Halloween Kid's Fest. It will take place on Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. at the South Bend Police Dept. All children who reside in lib St. Joseph County are welcome to attend and they will receive candy and important safety information. Donations of candy can be dropped off at the front desk of the St. Joseph County Jail, attention: COP Leadership Council, and at the front desk of the So. Bend Police Dept., attention: Lt. Richard Powers. IIf you have any questions, or wish to help out, please contact IPhyllis Fields at 574- 287 -0063, or Juanita Dempsey at 574- 234 -7409. Lunch & Learn Series Continues! Applicants that are eligible for the loan/grant combination I may receive up to $34,000 in repairs, with 50% in the form of a grant. All loans secured by the home cannot exceed 120% of the value of the home. For questions or to determine your eligibility for this program, please call the Division of Community Development at 574- 235 -9660. Hosted by South Bend's Dept. of Community & Economic Development Place: WNIT's New Studios — 300 W. Jefferson Time: Noon to 1:00 PM October Dates: 10 /1 Historic Districts & other Neighborhoods 10/7 Theater /Arts — We Do Have Culture!! 10/14 Parks & Recreation, Downtown South Bend — Fun 10/21 South Bend's Early Diversity — the Jewish Community, African Americans, Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Germans, Belgians, Italians, and the Hispanic /Latino Community. 10/28 Continuation of South Bend's Early Diversity More to come in November! RSVP — ssolmos(a southbendin.gov or call 574- 235 -5879. If you want to attend a specific week, please RSVP now to secure a spot. Seating is limited! Lunch will be available for $8.50 — contact Sue Solmos for menus, to order lunch, and /or for any questions. SI USTED NO ENTIENDE INGLES Y NECESITA AYUDA PARA TRADUCIR ESTE DOCUMENTO, O SI TIENE ALGUNA PREGUNTA, POR FAVOR LLAME AL TELEFONO (574) 235 -5858 X 1000. Composting Workshop and Sale Have you ever wanted to compost? Do you need a composter? The St. Joe County Soil and Water Conservation Dist. and the Solid Waste Management Dist. will be sponsoring a composting workshop on Monday, Sept. 27 from 6:30- 8:30pm at the St. Joseph County Public Library - Main Library, in the Colfax Auditorium. In addition there will be a pre -sale for rain - barrels and composters. Pre - orders will be taken until October 8th and the pickup will be on October 14th. For information on the types of rain - barrels and composters available or to place your order call 574 -291 -7444, ext. 3, or email or visit www.stjoseph.iaswcd.org.