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Home My WebLink About01-16-2007 Mayor Touts Success of Residential and Commercial Corridor Improvement Matching Grants oiT11 � , 4 � F x G� d W PEACE a r x ■ 1865 MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday,January 16, 2007 2:45 PM Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 Jeff Vitton, Community& Economic Development, 235-5827 Chris Dressel, Community& Economic Development, 235-5847 Mayor Touts Success of Residential and Commercial Corridor Improvement Matching Grants. Reemphasizing his commitment to revitalization and growth in South Bend's neighborhoods and business districts, Mayor Luecke met today with City and neighborhood leaders at Gene's Camera Store on Lincoln Way West,to talk about the overall success of the Commercial Corridor Fagade Improvement and Residential Enhancement matching grant programs. Corridor and neighborhood improvement initiatives have been a priority of the Mayor since he took office in 1997. The matching grant programs seek to enhance the vibrancy of city neighborhoods and business sectors through a cooperative of public and private investment. On Lincoln Way West, Gene's Camera Store serves as a shining example of the commercial corridor improvements. Owned and operated by Mr. Jack St. Pierre since 1981, Gene's Camera Store has recently undergone fapade improvements with the help of a grant from the City's Commercial Corridor Fagade Improvement Matching Grant Program. Mr. St. Pierre made visual improvements to the west wall of his business and constructed a new parking lot in the vacant space next to the store. The parking lot, complete with lighting and landscaping, allows customers to park safely next to the store and enter through the new west door. The improvements were made possible by a City grant of$20,000, which Mr. St. Pierre matched with a private investment of$42,605. "In the last year, on Lincoln Way West alone, eight businesses were able to enhance the facades of their stores," said Mayor Luecke. "Through the cooperation of local business leaders and the City of South Bend, over $140,000 was invested in this commercial corridor on which we stand. Helping these small businesses to revitalize the arteries of South Bend is imperative to the future success of our city." -More- 2 The Commercial Corridor Fagade Improvement Matching Grant Program has had a profound impact on each of the major City corridors. Since 2002,businesses on Miami St., Portage Ave., Western Ave., Lincolnway West and Mishawaka Ave. have matched the City's investment of$760,000 with private investments of over $1,300,000. In 2006 alone, thirty businesses received matching grants, leading to a total public/private investment of$354,000 in corridor improvements. "We are very proud of the work that has already been done to improve the face of our city," commented Jeff Vitton, Community & Economic Development. Chris Dressel, also from Community & Economic Development, added, "We will continue to work in cooperation with City homeowners and business leaders to achieve our goal of South Bend as a vibrant commercial center and a thriving community." Mayor Luecke and Council members have also made a major push for neighborhood improvements. The Residential Enhancement Program has assisted homeowners in targeted areas make highly visible exterior improvements to their homes. In the River Park neighborhood, homeowner Ray Norris was able to install vertical steel board and batten style siding on his home, with help from a Residential Enhancement matching grant. Mr. Norris is not alone in his desire to upgrade the River Park neighborhood. Since 2002, over forty of Mr.Norris' neighbors have taken advantage of the Residential Enhancement program, investing nearly $300,000 in the River Park neighborhood. Other City neighborhoods have followed suit. The Keller Park,Westside, River Park, Rum Village, LaSalle Area, Oliver Gateway,Near Westside and Westside Extended neighborhoods have all benefited from the matching grant program. In total,the program has granted over $640,000, spurring private residents to invest over $540,000 in neighborhood enhancement since 2002. "The Residential Enhancement and Commercial Corridor Improvement programs have generated over $3.2 million dollars of investment in our neighborhoods and commercial corridors,"Mayor Luecke said. "The success of these programs represents a true partnership of government and the citizens of South Bend, working together to improve the city we live in." For further information regarding the River Park Residential Enhancement Project, home owner Ray Norris can be contacted at 288-7304. He will be available the rest of the afternoon for interviews on site. -30- Lincoln Way West Corridor Background Information January 2007 HISTORY • First coast-to-coast highway from New York to San Francisco established in 1913 and named after President Lincoln • Active housing and business construction along the Corridor in the 1920's • Corridor was a streetcar route until 1937 • The City took over the ownership of US-20 from the state in 1999. Road improvements totaled nearly $2.5 million • 1999 Lincoln Way West Commercial Corridor Revitalization Action Plan prepared by Business Districts Incorporated (BDI, Inc.) • Lincoln Way West was designated as one of the five commercial corridors in South Bend along with Western Avenue, S. Gateway (S. Michigan and S. Main Streets), Miami Village, and Portage Avenue. It is considered a primary corridor, serving as a major gateway to South Bend • Lincoln Way West Steering Committee and its subcommittees (Land Use, Marketing and Safety) were formed in 1999 as part of Mayor Stephen J. Luecke Commercial Corridor Initiative to implement the Corridor Plan • Neighbors Subcommittee was formed in 2003 • Lincoln Way West is officially recognized by the Lincoln Highway Association ACCOMPLISHMENTS* Business Development/Assistance • Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program 0 43 grant awards made since 2002 0 Total public investment - $304,504.50 o Private investment - $770,300.50 o On average, for every dollar of public investment made, two and a half dollars of private investment is made. Property Acquisition, Demolition, and Redevelopment • Ongoing redevelopment of LaSalle Square • Rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of Smitty's Garage for art studios and classrooms: Studio 815. • Acquisition of residential land for the new fire Ali& station at the corner of Chapin and LWW. $100,000 contribution to the development of the facility. • Demolition and relocation of the Plasma Center, formerly located in the 500 block of LWW adjacent to Gene's Camera Store. The site is now used for Gene's Camera Store parking • Construction of Teachers Credit Union branch, injecting $1,250,000 of private investment • Brownfield identification and environmental assessment activities • Acquisition and demolition of blighted and substandard buildings, such as Bullseye Liquor Store, Recovery House, and White Lightning Streetscape Improvements • Installed 13 flower planters • Chapin Street improvements (narrowing the - road; installing decorative lampposts and y.�, landscaping; infrastructure improvements) • New curbs and sidewalks (LaSalle to Chapin on the north side of LWW) • Tree planting • Installation of identity markers at key intersections • Corridor paving and widening Safety Improvements • Alley lights installed throughout corridor. • Corridor Initiative funded additional police patrols along LWW in 2005 & 2006. Through these additional patrols: 0 1350 additional hours of police patrols were made 0 50 arrests were made o Over 1300 traffic violations were cited Other • Lincoln Way West road realigned to allow for the airport expansion, innovating and efficient traffic circles installed. • Expanded Corridor boundaries west of Bendix Dr., including Ardmore Trail and dl LaSalle Square (P/ease note that some activities or programs may have heen discontinued.) River Park Neighborhood 2006 Residential Enhancement Program 3003 Northside Boulevard Before 11■� A AT r Project consisted of : Total Private Public • removal of existing siding Project Investment Investment • installation of bronze colored Cost vertical board and batten style $9,375.00 $4,687.50 $4,687.50 siding on entire home After Department of Community and Economic Development Ciry of South Bend H: Division of Community Development Stephen J.Luecke,Mayor 1 • I�IIII � III' _ i II rIIIIl11 � III •r 1 1 I 111111111 { 4J X111111= `1111. rrII � • 1111111111 i i �I�IIIMI�• � Y I • " � I �I1 1 =11111111111 � , • '� 1111■I = -IIII1111111111�� • i 1111111 III X111■II�IIIIIIIIC � �� ' M1M1� � ;, M1 II Illlllll !!I!IlIIIIIIIII_ , ,� . , III■Illlllll � � _ ! !ll llll 'S :�� prrrr 11 • ' , �� u��rl 11111 . 11111111111111111 I �rlllll�ll 111 IIII I �illll■ ;1 � , �� 1 . 11i11111111i �� ■��