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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-2007 Newsletter SOUTHA11 w BEND I U LY 2007 'oay'y�y�///JJy' a [.. l:�'1 . A . ! 1 MAYOR STEPhEN 1. LUEckE V Letter from the Mayor THIS MONTH... Mayor's Letter Dear South Bend Residents, Art Beat: Save the Date! Did You Know? Common Property The beauty,vibrancy and diversity of South Bend's many neighborhoods is Maintenance Code Violations one of our community's greatest assets. From historic downtown neighbor- Morris Star Rises in National Rankings hoods to the new and growing residential areas on the south side, South Bend Outdoors in South Bend is the perfect place to buy a house, start a family or just to call home. Some of Studebaker Commemorative Bricks our traditionally strong neighborhoods,however,have been weakened by the Fire Hydrant Paint Kits City Celebration - HPC Workshop over abundance of vacant and abandoned homes. Derelict housing can have Wednesday devastating effects,de-stabilizing neighborhood communities, increasing crime Local Government Academy and lowering property values. It is an issue that must be addressed. Downtown South Bend, Inc. In the last State of the City Address, I promised to reduce vacant housing by 10% over three years. It is my pleasure to report that we will reach our 10%goal in only two years. Ultimately, we will reducte vacant housing by • w 20%,while reducing abandoned housing by 72%. �1u1{ 'L• In May I introduced a comprehensive initiative to combat vacant and • • abandoned housing. City departments are already at work on this strategy, • kl!eHeart • through which we will attract homebuyers of all income levels to targeted Xauth Bend -- neighborhoods. We will build on the City's existing code enforcement and use Thursday, Sept 6, 2007, 4—8:30 p_nL new public-private partnerships to revitalize 445 properties. Does your business involve the visual arts? My initiative calls for the city to • Dance?Music?Food?Are you looking for a fun • Identify entire blocks as the focus of a specific demolition and redevel- and inexpensive way to get thousands of people opment strategy, starting, initially, with the City's west and northwest • to see,hear or taste your work? If so,Art Beat sides. 2007 is the perfect showcase for you—and • Acquire and clean out 45 abandoned homes on the City's northwest • now is the perfect time to reserve your space. Currently m its fifth Y ear,Art Beat has and west sides. • Y � • Sell these homes, for$1 apiece,to homebuyers or developers who will • become one of downtown South Bend's most invest an estimated$75,000 to completely refurbish each home and celebrated public events. Each year, on the then live in the homes for at least 5 years. Thursday after Labor Day, the streets of • Demolish 400 substandard properties citywide and in targeted neigh- • downtown South Bend become one of borhoods. Indiana's largest art galleries. This • Work with nonprofit organizations to replace these vacated properties • community-wide showcase of the cultural arts with infill housing,or,when possible,to sell the lots to neighboring draws more than 500 individual and group homeowners. • artists who want to participate in the special • n • Provide incentives for residential housing development in South Bend. • event. Featuring dancers, musicians, actors, • Propose, for consideration by the Common Council, a vacant house poets, and artists of all kinds,Art Beat is registration ordinance requiring registration of any home vacant for • attended by more than 7,000 people from the more than 90 days and in violation of existing code regulations. area and you can be there! • Free up additional resources for boarding up unsafe structures. • Go to www.ArtBeatSouthBend.org and Implementation of this strategy will be a significant step toward returning "click"participant registration." It's that easy. neighborhoods to productive use. We will enable homebuyers to rediscover the Please review this year's guidelines and joy of front-porch communities,build on a national trend of homebuyers register by Aug. 17, 2007. returning to urban neighborhoods, and turn around South Bend's distressed neighborhoods,making them shine once more. SIUSTEDNOENTIENDEINGLESYNECESITA Sincerely, AYUDAPARATRADUCIRESTEDOCUMENTO, O SI TIENEALGUNA PREGUNTA,PORFAVOR LLAMEAL TELEFONO(574)235-5858X 1000. Mayor Steve Did You Know? Common Property c Maintenance Code Violations As the City works to clean up abandoned& vacant properties, we ask for property owners' help in making our neighborhoods clean and pleasant PERFORMING ARTS CENTER places to live,by preventing or remedying the following common code violations: Morris Star Rising High Environmental Violations: in National Rankings • Uncollected trash,garbage, litter, and debris South Bend's Morris Performing Arts • Fallen trees, stumps, dead trees, and cut brush Center is once again ranked by Pollstar in • Debris from demolition the top 100 Theater Venues Worldwide, • Appliances or furniture in yard and they are moving up! The Morris • Auto parts and scrap metal jumped to #38 for 2006, up from their • Grass over 9 inches tall 2005 ranking of#46. South Bend's Code Enforcement Procedures: favorite performance venue shines in 1. An Inspector verifies a code violation and issues a written notice to the stellar company,alongside Radio City property's owner describing the problem. South Bend ordinance Music Hall and the Coliseum at Caesars requires at least 48 hours notice be given for compliance. Palace, and topping the Rosemont 2. If there is no compliance,the Clean-Up Crew will clean the property Theatre in Chicago and Fox Theatre in and the property owner will be billed for the cost of clean-up. Minimum Detroit, according to the January 15, charge is $111.00. 2007,special edition of Pollstar. 3. The City's Department of Solid Waste can remedy many problems that "The Morris Performing Arts Center involve removal of trash and debris. They can be reached at is a cornerstone of downtown South 574.277.8823. Bend," commented Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. "The vision and hard work of Housing Violations: the Morris staff continues to bring • Roofs that are not weather tight. national recognition to South Bend and • Substandard or inoperable plumbing, electrical wiring,or heating quality entertainment to the Indiana/ systems. Michigan area, and I congratulate them • Deteriorated and unsound structures. on this most recent achievement." • Open cracks and breaks in foundation walls. "The Morris is proud of the fact that • Lack of adequate heat and hot water. it has been consistently ranked among the • Holes and rotting boards in exterior walls top 50 theaters worldwide based on ticket sales," commented Dennis J.Andres, Code Enforcement Procedures Executive Director. "The Morris contin- 1. An Inspector determines if there are a significant number of structural ues to have a strong economic impact on defects to make the house unsafe. Minor violations are also noted since downtown South Bend. We strive to they may lead to more serious problems. meet promoters' expectations to attract a 2. A letter is sent to the property owner requesting the property owner to wide variety of events to the Morris and repair the violations in 15 or 30 days, depending on the seriousness of continue to be 'the hottest ticket in town' the violations. and in the entire region!" 3. If there is no compliance at the end of the designated period of time, the Pollstar is the concert industry's property owner is asked to appear before the Code Enforcement leading trade publication. Its rankings are Hearing Officer. based on total ticket sales. 4. At the hearing, a repair date is established with the property owner. In addition to its ever-soaring yearly 5. If the repairs are not made by that time, the case is referred to the Legal standing in the Pollstar rankings,the Department for legal action. Morris received the 2006 Prime Site 6. Extension may be granted to property owners who have exhibited a Award from Facilities Magazine for its willingness to rehabilitate their property. outstanding service to event clientele, The primary goal of Code Enforcement is to based on the opinions of booking agents, ensure the health and safety of all South Bend resi- promoters and talent buyers. The Morris' dents through a systematic, sensitive enforcement of state-of-the-art marquee was also fea- City ordinances. For more information, or to report a tured in the October 2006 edition of violation,please contact the Department of Code "Signs of the Time"magazine, an interna- Enforcement at 235-9486, or visit �„�o tional publication for the sign industry. www.southbendin.gov/code. ��_��� •" " " " " " " " " '• OUTDOORS IN SOUTH BEND • • III Long days and warm evenings make this a perfect time to enjoy some of the many outdoor • • activities that South Bend has to offer. (9D • � � With the hard work of the Public Works & Parks Departments nearing completion, South • • Bend residents will now have over 11 miles of Riverwalk to enjoy, stretching from COMMEMORATIVE : IUSB to the Darden Pedestrian Bridge. Stroll,jog, or bike the trails for a serene downtown experience. If you work up a sweat, try cooling off with a float down BRICKS ; the East Race, a swim at the Potawatomi Pool, or a romp through the Kennedy The "Studebaker Story" and water park. • the building of the Studebaker • If your idea of exercise includes a ball and rules, South Bend has great oppor- National Museum would not have ; tunities. Get some instruction,join a league or enter into a tournament at Elbel, • been possible without the • Erskine or Studebaker golf courses or at the Leeper Park Tennis Center. Kids can dedicated efforts of our South ; take advantage of the O'Brian Skate Park, one of the best facilities in the region to Bend family. Many of you board or roller blade. worked at Studebaker or had . For family fun and great exercise, spend time together at any one of South friends or relatives who worked Bend's parks,playing whiffle ball or Frisbee, or just kicking a soccer ball around. • there. The Museum wants to • You can find a complete listing of events and activities for adults and children recognize their contribution, by ; at www.sbpark.org, or by calling 299-4765. • offering the public the opportunity to purchase an inscribed • commemorative brick to be laid in : the Memorial Garden, south of the : TAKE PART IN PUBLIC ART! Museum. The South Bend Fire Hydrant Painting Project is now underway! • • $150—4x8 Brick(1 line • = Free kits, that contain designs, instructions and paint, to refurbish a inscription) ; hydrant near you, are available at the Studio Arts Center, at 805/807 • • $250—8x8 Brick(2 line • �� � Lincolnway West. If you are interested in refurbishing a fire inscription) ; hydrant, please call Studio Arts at 288-0160, Toes - Fri. from 1 - 6 • $1,852*— 12x12 Brick(5 line p.m., to arrange a time to pick up a kit. inscription or logo) *The . Volunteers are encouraged to repaint Bicentennial fire hydrants Studebaker brothers founded their that have become worn and rusted, or to create new ones using official historic • blacksmith shop in 1852. • Bicentennial designs. Please note that only the Bicentennial designs are approved by When the limited supply of ; City ordinance to be painted on City of South Bend hydrants. • bricks has been purchased, the • The Fire Hydrant Painting Project began in 1974, as part of the City's program will be discontinued. To ; celebration of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. Mrs.Ruth Von order your brick, or for more Karowsky, a local artist, created all of South Bend's designs based on Revolutionary information,please call the . War heroes. Refurbishing has continued, over the past 30 years, to keep the Studebaker National Museum at fireplugs in pristine condition. • 235-9714, or visit us online at • The hydrant painting project is part of the City's Art in Public Places Initiative. studebakermuseum.org. ; For more information or questions on the Project, please contact Jennifer Jackson, •• • • • . • • . • • . • • . • • . • •• Mayor's Office for Special Projects, at 235-7590, or visit our website at southbendin.gov/firehydrants. 2 0 0 7 • I H S O U T H B LEARN ABOUT LOCAL Historic Preservation Commission GOVERNMENT WORKSHOPWEDNESDAY South Bend's FREE Local : Wednesday,August 29 ; Government Academy is your chance to learn about the Mr. Kurt Culbertson,Board Member of the Cultural City, from the inside out. The Academy meets from 5:30- • Landscapes Foundation,will present a program on famed • 730 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, for ten weeks. The landscape architect George Kessler, designer of South Bend's next session begins August 22,2007, and registration is • Parks and Boulevards System. Main Branch of the St. . required. For more information or to register,please call Joseph County Public Library, 6:00 p.m. FREE admission. ; the Mayor's Office at 235-9261, or visit . . www.southbendin.gov/localgovernrnentacademy. DOWNTOWN r Downtown South Bend , Inc . Z About Us Marketing & Promotions x p 0 ♦ Special events & promotions © i; ro Who We Are St. Patrick's Day Party SOUTH BEND Downtown South Bend, Inc. (DTSB) is a not-for- • Red Table Plaza Concerts (1 1:30a- profit 501 C(6) organization dedicated to the 1:30p,M-F, Summer Months) OFFICERS OF THE continued growth and prosperity of Downtown • Art Beat (September 6, 2007) South Bend as a place to work, play, live, and • Football Fridays (Friday preceding each BOARD shop. DTSB continually works to improve our home ND Football game) community's quality of life through creative • Holidays with Santa (Starting first Paul Meyer marketing and promotion, coordinated Saturday in December through South Bend Clinic public/private initiatives, effective economic December 24) Chair development and business recruitment. ♦ Shop & Play Guide Kay Ball • High-end visitors guide listing retailers, St. Mary's College How We Are Funded restaurants and attractions DTSB is funded via voluntary BID (Business ♦ Ribbon cuttings for new downtown Vice Chair Improvement District contributions P ) b by local businesses Greg Conrad property owners, TIF (Tax Increment Financing) ♦ Downtown image marketing Memorial Hospital Funds, City of South Bend general funds and parking lot management revenue. Additional ♦ Group advertising programs for Treasurer funds are raised through sponsorships and downtown businesses Melissa Collins grants for special events. ♦ Downtown gift certificate program 1st Source Bank As of January 2007, over $12,000 in Secretary Governing Body Downtown Dollars have been issued DTSB is governed by a 32 member board In transition to a card program for which includes local building and business Holiday'07 release owners, business leaders, residents and City ♦ Informational faxes to downtown DTSB STAFF officials. Officers of the board include Chair, businesses Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. ♦ Downtownsouthbend.com website Marco Marian! Interim Executive Director Areas of Design & Land Use mmariani @downtownsnuthbendcom ♦ Fagade &Streetscape Grant Program ♦ Design & Streetscape Standards Guide Jitin Kain Concentration Interim Assistant Director Business Recruitment jkain @downtownsouthbend.c= Hospitality & Safety p y y ♦ Informational packets and general ShannanSchmidt ♦ Ambassador Program—Clean & Safe assistance for new businesses inquiries Project Development Manager Downtown ♦ Data resource (database)development & sschmidt@dDwntownmuthbendcom . Visitor & motorist assistance market profile . Hanging flower baskets -270+ hanging ♦ Website resources flower basket throughout downtown . Real estate listings . Flower beds and tree rings- 3,000+ . Grant & loan opportunities flowers planted in beds, pots and tree rings Neighborhood Relations . Banners and flags displayed throughout ♦ Encourage neighborhood involvement in Downtown South Bend, Inc. the year downtown events and programs 217 S. Michigan Street • New benches, trash receptacles and ♦ Participation in neighborhood meetings South Bend, IN 46601 flower pots and events Tel:57282-1110 • Sidewalk power washing 4 ♦ Assistance with neighborhood events Fax:57233-7382 • Weed and graffiti removal 4 20,000 pounds of trash collected yearly . Ambassador support Mailing Address: . Panhandling deterrent Equipment loan PO Box 930 . Alley cleaning South Bend, IN 46624