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Home My WebLink About06-19-2007 Commercial Corridors Spur New Business Growth 4 � � d PE►CF y ��el x x65 Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE June 19, 2007 2 p.m. Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876- 1564, or Pam Meyer, Director of Community Development, 235-5845 Commercial Corridors Spur New Business Growth In announcing $1 million in allocations for 2007 to South Bend's five commercial corridors, Mayor Stephen J. Luecke today highlighted how seed money from the city has helped stimulate a nearly 10-fold private investment along the corridors. Over an eight-year period, the city has invested $6.75 million in the commercial corridors: Lincolnway West, Miami Street, Portage Avenue, South Michigan/Main streets and Western Avenue. Between 2000—one year after the program's inception—and early in 2007, private development along those corridors has approached nearly $65 million with 416 building permits taken out by private entities. More than $12 million of investment—nearly one-fifth of the total—occurred in 2006 alone when 61 building permits were taken out. And nowhere is that trend more evident than along Western Avenue, site of the 2007 commercial corridor announcement, where 14 new businesses have started in the last two years. "Our Commercial Corridors illustrate the tipping point: a small investment by the city and a little initiative by property owners yields a far greater return in terms of the overall impact in the community," Luecke said. "People who regularly drive these routes see the changes happening day-to-day. We're building a new South Bend, and the private sector has responded with new investment, new jobs and new vitality, particularly along Western Avenue." Speaking in front of La Rosita's, an ice-cream shop and ice-pops maker at 2909 Western Ave., Luecke was joined by members of the South Bend Common Council and representatives of each of the commercial corridor committees, who make decisions about how to allocate the resources on their gateway to South Bend's downtown. In the Western Avenue corridor, La Rosita is one of several small businesses to have used the matching grant program to improve its facade. Along with other matching grants for streetscapes, these investments have contributed to the opening and relocation of new businesses in the corridor. In the last two years, Western Avenue has seen the start of 14 new, locally owned businesses, including: Rosales Super Market, 2802 W. Western Ave. Taste of Mexico, 2637 W. Western Ave. Shoes 'N More, 2903 W. Western Ave. Grupo Oasys, 2912 W. Western Ave. La Marea, 3401 W. Western Ave. Western Avenue has received the third largest share of resources, nearly $1.6 million, behind South Gateway(Main and Michigan streets) and Lincolnway West, respectively. In 2007, the allocations are: Lincolnway West $205,000 Miami Street $225,000 Portage Avenue $180,000 South Michigan/Main streets: $190,000 Western Avenue $200,000 From $550,000 in 1999, Commercial Corridor funding has grown to $1 million annually for the last four years. Including the 2007 allocation, the city will have invested $7.75 million in the five corridors since the program began eight years ago with support from the county option income tax. Since 1999, the total corridor allocations have been: Lincolnway West: $1,673,500 Miami Street: $1,441,500 Portage Avenue: $1,031,000 South Michigan/Main streets: $2,013,500 Western Avenue: $1,590,500 "This is a wonderful example of how partnerships can help build our community," Luecke said. "The Commercial Corridor Committees' combination of experience and knowledge combined with a personal commitment to their areas has resulted in an approach tailored to the needs and built on the assets of each corridor. This could not have happened if government had tried to work alone to implement the projects." Here are the planned improvements for 2007 along each of the commercial corridors: LINCOLNWAY WEST: Street-lighting improvements will take place from Lafayette Boulevard to Martin Luther King Drive along with matching grants for fagade work and expanded police patrols. Corridor funds enable staff support and property-acquisition activities by the South Bend Heritage Foundation along Lincolnway West. MIAMI STREET: Phase 5 of the corridor's streetscape efforts will be completed from Broadway to the railroad viaduct along with a continuation of matching grants for fagade work. In addition, activities will market and promote the corridor, including business recruitment and the annual fall festival. PORTAGE AVENUE: Continued development, landscaping and maintenance of the 800 block in partnership with the Near Northwest Neighborhood as well as streetscape improvements and fagade matching grants. SOUTH MICHIGAN/MAIN STREETS: In partnership with the Urban Enterprise Association of South Bend Inc., property acquisition will continue with targeted development opportunities along the corridor. The UEA continues to market and maintain properties in the 900 and 1000 blocks of South Michigan Street. In addition, streetscape enhancements will be finished this year from Sample Street to Bronson Street. WESTERN AVENUE: Along Western Avenue, curb and sidewalk improvements have been completed from Lombardy Drive east to Illinois Street with new trees and streetlights from Lombardy to Albert Avenue. In 2007, new trees and streetlights are planned from Albert to Illinois. In addition, the corridor committee plans continued fagade matching grants as well as efforts to market and promote businesses along the corridor. - 30 - Commercial Corridor Accomplishments Lincolnway West 3V Facade Matching Grant Program 43 grant awards made since 2002 1' $770,300.50 in private investment $304,504.50 in public investment , Li On average, for every dollar of public investment made, two and a half dollars a 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 station at the corner of Chapin and l/ � LWW. $100,000 contribution to the i � ► 11 12 -! 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 "r-7 ;9 -� ; Acquisition and demolition of blighted and e��r: substandard buildings, such as Bullseye Liquor Store, Recovery House, and White Lightning Streetscape Improvements Installed 13 flower planters Chapin Street improvements (street y,. T narrowing, decorative lampposts, landscaping) F ` New curbs and sidewalks (LaSalle to Chapin s.d on the north side of LWW) Tree planting Installation of identity markers at key intersections Street paving and widening Safety Improvements Alley lights installed throughout corridor —� Corridor Initiative funded ' G ;MERA sTou 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 Accomplishments Lincoln Way West road realigned to allow for the airport expansion, innovative and efficient traffic circles installed Expanded Corridor boundaries west of Bendix Dr., including LINCOLN Ardmore Trail and LaSalle Square T The Lincoln Highway Association opened its national L headquarters in South Bend in 2007, and plans to host their HIGHWAY national conference here in the summer of 2009 Miami Street Facade Matching Grant Program 26 grants with a total of $237,372 in investment (3 grants for $21,385 in 2006) $129,622 in private investment ($10,692.50 in 2006) $107,750 in public investment ($10,692.50 in 2006) Streetscape Enhancement Projects Phase IV of the Miami Street Streetscape project was completed between Broadway —° and Indiana Avenue. The Streetscape J project is creating an attractive, pedestrian friendly environment with new sidewalks, "' I' decorative crosswalks, curbs, trees, and decorative lighting. Since 2003, the nine- block Broadway to Altgeld Street section has been completed. :Et The Indiana Avenue to Calvert Street section of Miami St. was repaved in 2006. The Indiana Avenue to Ewing Avenue section has p' been repaved in the last two years. A gateway sign and treatment has been completed at the southern end of the corridor, while the refurbishing of the railroad viaduct and creation of a small park welcome visitors to the northern end. Additional Programs & Accomplishments The Miami Street Corridor hosts the annual Fall Festival the first Sunday of October. The 2006 Festival drew a record crowd of about 3,000. The Miami Village Association has instituted a business recruitment campaign and has developed business promoting materials, ,. including a brochure, a corridor logo, advertisements, and gateway signs. Six new businesses opened on Miami Street in 2006. Three more businesses have opened since January 1. S. Michigan / S. Main Streets Acquisition, Demolition, and Redevelopment • Since 2003, five properties have been purchased with assistance of the Urban Enterprise Association ':•-- of South Bend, Inc, including: • 913-919 and 1001 (former Dudes N' Darlins): site was cleared, prepared for redevelopment, and is being marketed by local realtor. • 1101 S. Michigan: site was cleared and sold to REAL Services to facilitate their planned future expansion. • 1019 S. Michigan (The Burke Building): this local historic landmark has been secured and maintained by the UEA. A new roof was installated. The n r"a property is being marketed for reuse, both locally and nationally. • By acquiring these properties, three vacant buildings were demolished and these sites prepared for redevelopment • Additional properties will be targeted for purchase as future development opportunities in an effort to stimulate further market driven development in the corridor Streetscape Enhancement Projects New sidewalk, curbs, and trees have been installed in the 25 blocks between Chippewa and Sample. These improvements included the restoration of tree lawn with tree plantings. Additional streetscape improvements,including the installation of treegrates, started in 2006, will be oil, i completed between Bronson and Sample in 2007. Additional Programs & Accomplishments • The corridor has developed a marketing campaign, which has included brochure creation, website development, newspaper advertisements and a series of television commercials. • South Gateway worked in conjunction with Riley High School students to produce a quarterly newsletter. • To improve safety, funding is provided for increased police presence and a series of anti-crime, anti-violence and anti-gang billboards. Other Accomplishments • Through a $700,000 Build Indiana Fund (BIF) grant received by Transpo, improvements will be made to the S. Main and S. Michigan railroad viaducts at Bronson Street. This work includes sandblasting and cleaning of concrete, painting of bridge structure, and the installation of decorative grillwork and improved lighting for pedestrians and motorists underneath the bridges. The embankments approaching the bridges also will be landscaped. • Four former adult business sites were acquired and cleared for redevelopment, and they are now marketed for sale by the South Bend Redevelopment Commission. Portage Avenue Facade Matching Grant Program 16 grants with a total of $180,184 in investment (3 grants for $15,733 in 2006) $75,709 in private investment ($6,293 in 2006) $104,475 in public investment ($9,440 in 2006) Streetscape Enhancement Projects In 2006, the Portage Avenue - Steering Committee acquired 808- 836 Portage Avenue, and the I underutilized commercial buildings were cleared to make way for future development. = __ A number of streetscape projects have been completed including new curbs, sidewalks and trees from California to Angela, the Portage and Navarre as well as Portage and Allen/Humboldt intersection have been reconfigured, and improvements at King Street. The completion of these projects have created a more pedestrian friendly environment, increased area beautification & green space, improved intersection safety and provided traffic calming. AL M1 a Before After Additional Programs & Accomplishments A business directory of all businesses along the corridor was developed as a method to advertise the wide range of goods and services available to area residents. In 2005 the steering committee developed a marketing brochure and logo for the corridor in order to promote Portage Avenue as a place to do business. Western Avenue Facade Matching Grant Program 23 grants with a total of $255,380 in investment $133,985 of private investment ($39,495 in 2006) $121,396 in public funding ($39,495 in 2006) Eight 100% grants resulted in $178,990 of funding for businesses Four matching security grants with a total of $15,153 in investment: $7,569 of private investment was leveraged by $7,569 in public funding Streetscape Enhancement Proiects The City has invested $633,933 in new sidewalks, *� lighting and trees from Lombardy Drive to Illinois Street ($175,105 in 2006) 0 Other Physical Projects Successfully completed a $50,000 landscaping project at Laurel and Western, turning a blighted parcel into an asset for the Avenue and the Iglesia Mission which owns it. Acquired and landscaped several vacant lots near the railroad bridge at Western and Walnut Street in 2006. Granted to Entermission Inc. a $50,000 special facade grant, through the Urban Enterprise Association, for building improvements in the 500 block of Western Avenue in 2007. Marketing and Promotional Activities Prior to 2006 Created a new logo for and brochure to market Western Avenue — Western Avenue: Wealth in Diversity Unveiled a newly designed commercial — corridor website at www.sbcorridors.ora _ Doubled membership on the Committee, -Aww _ which better reflects the varied people, neighborhoods and organizations that comprise the surrounding area Partnered with the South Bend Regional Museum of Art's Summer Youth Outreach Program to create a new mural at Western Avenue and Walnut Street 2006/2007 Held second business networking breakfast (@ Goodwill Industries) Continued newsletters and website Worked with Notre Dame to identify businesses with an interest in working with students at the Gigot Center