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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
July 20, 2007
1:30 p.m.
Westside to benefit from airport-area economic growth
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-
1564, or Tom Price, Assistant to the Mayor, 235-5853 or 514-2169
The economic boon brought from development in Blackthorn and other industries near
South Bend Regional Airport will bring benefits to LaSalle Square and the city's west
side, after a panel gave final approval to one of Mayor Stephen J. Luecke's key State of
the City directives.
And expanded tax revenue from the $200 million investment anticipated after the South
Bend Common Council approved zoning this week for the Eddy Street Commons will
fund a $15 million Northeast Neighborhood redevelopment effort that will construct 60
new homes.
After public hearings, the Redevelopment Commission approved Friday(July 20, 2007)
the expansion or creation of two tax increment financing, or TIF, districts:
• Expansion of the Airport Economic Development Area to include LaSalle Square, the
Marycrest/Hurwich area and the Sample-Ewing Development Area
• Creation of Housing Program and Housing Allocation residential TIE area in the
Northeast Neighborhood Development Area to enable the "Triangle area" north of
South Bend Avenue to be replated for the construction of 60 market-rate and
affordable homes.
In a TIE district, the increase in tax revenue generated by development stays within the
boundaries of the district to fund infrastructure improvements, including curbs,
sidewalks, streets, landscaping and other public improvements.
"These procedural actions by the Redevelopment Commission represent real
opportunities for a bright future for these areas by bringing significant public resources to
spur new investment in strategic areas that many have previously overlooked,"Luecke
said. "At last, this will give the city the kind of resources necessary to work to revitalize
LaSalle Square."
The Redevelopment Commission's budget for 2007 alone includes $500,000 in Airport
TIE area funds for LaSalle Square in anticipation of this action.
While public attention has focused on the retail and commercial benefits from the Eddy
Street Commons, another impact of the project is that it provides the finances to create in
the Northeast Neighborhood a residential TIE—the first of its kind statewide outside of
Indianapolis.
The Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization is purchasing 85 lots in the
Triangle area, which is bounded by Ind. 23, Eddy Street, Duey Street and the area known
as the Notre Dame woods. These lots will be replated into 60 larger lots for new housing
construction, 70 percent at market rate and 30 percent consisting of affordable housing.
Prices are anticipated to range between $175,000 and $250,000 at market rate and
$95,000 and $125,000 for affordable housing.
The NNRO was convened by the city as a partnership including the neighborhood, the
University of Notre Dame, Madison Center, Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Regional
Medical Center.
"These initiatives will have a positive impact on our neighborhoods and will illustrate
South Bend's progressive leadership in both economic development and housing,"
Luecke said.
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