HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-17-2007 Panel approves option for Blackthorn development 4 �
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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
August 17, 2007
1:15 p.m.
Panel approves option for Blackthorn development
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Jeff Gibney,Interim Director of Community&Economic Development, 235-9371
The South Bend Redevelopment Commission granted afive-year option to the developer
of Mishawaka 's Edison Lakes Corporate Park to purchase and develop the remaining
parcels in the city-owned Blackthorn Corporate Park.
Grubb & EllislCressy & Everett, 3930 Edison Lakes Parkway in Mishawaka, will
represent the Commission in the marketing, promotion and sale of property at the site.
Blackthorn, consisting of 3,500 acres, is part of the Airport Economic Development Area,
the largest in the city.
According to the contract, Cressy& Everett will pay a non-refundable $100,000 fee (and
a credit against future purchases) for the right to buy any of the sites for 75 percent of the
present list price. If Cressy exercises its option to buy 25 percent of the available acreage
during the five-year period, it may choose to extend its initial option for another five
years. The Redevelopment Commission would have the right to deny a five-year
extension of the agreement for any period in which Cressy does not buy 25 percent of the
available acreage.
"The city's primary work at Blackthorn has been completed. Our part is to provide the
infrastructure and the land for developers. It is a private-sector role to market the
property," said Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. "Working with Cressy, we believe will give us
another way to bring new development and new jobs to South Bend."
Grubb & EllislCressy & Everett was involved in the development of University Park
Mall, the Edison Lakes Corporate Park on 700 acres east of Grape Road and more than
$30 million dollars of development in South Bend, including Erskine Plaza, Carbonmill
Plaza and West Cleveland Industrial Park.
Blackthorn and Edison Lakes have about the same level of development even though
work Edison Lakes was begun a year earlier. Development at Blackthorn has exceeded
the half-billion-dollar mark, but significant property still remains.
"We believe South Bend/Mishawaka represent a single market," said Richard J. Doolittle,
chief operating officer of Grubb & EllislCressy & Everett. He noted that at least 70
percent of the firm's business is in South Bend, and particularly was interested in
promoting Blackthorn. "This is a regional, maybe even a national draw,"he said.
As part of the agreement, Grubb & EllislCressy & Everett will create marketing
strategies, a website, appropriate signage, a video and printed materials to promote sales
at the site.
Established in 1990 on the city's far northwest side, Blackthorn provides an environment
for new industrial, warehouse and business development. The area includes immediate
access to the South Bend Regional Airport,the Indiana Toll Road and the U.S. 31
Bypass. Blackthorn is the center of industrial employment in St. Joseph County.
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