HomeMy WebLinkAboutLinden Avenue Partnership Outline (2)
South Bend Common Council 227 W, Jefferson Blvd. Room 441
County-City Building, South Bend, IN 46601
The Collective Power of Engagement & Intentionally Collaboration
Linden Avenue Enrichment District
PARTNERSHIP OUTLINE
AUGUST 18, 2019
1. A description of proposed plan and how it relates to the Common
Council/City’s basic purpose and mission:
Linden Avenue Enrichment District
Linden Avenue North of the railroad is home to several longstanding Black-owned
businesses. Each of these entrepreneurs are home grown executives with
successful enterprises and each has a vision for passing on their craft. As they
expand their existing businesses, they will add space and programming to engage
local youth in enrichment opportunities. Building on the already successful offerings
of the King Center, young people will find their passion and earn practical
experience/training in cosmetology, graphic design, culinary arts and so much more.
Supporting the development of the Linden Avenue Enrichment District is in line with
the City’s mission to deliver services that empower everyone to thrive. The plan fits
into two of the three pillars of administration policy, putting residents first and
investing in people and places.
Invest in people to create opportunities for everyone to thrive.
Each of these business owners have been serving the community for over 20 years.
They have proven success and longevity and have invested their entire lives into the
community. The buildings along Linden Avenue, however, are in need of renovation
to accommodate their aspirations for the future. This is the administration’s
opportunity to reciprocate the investment these business owners have made not just
in this neighborhood but throughout the city.
2. Why this plan is needed:
This project hits key targets for the city including supporting minority business
development, increasing safety, and providing opportunities to engage young
people. Investment in Linden Avenue is an investment in preservation of the
history of Black entrepreneurship, investment in public wellness, and most
importantly and investment in youth.
3. The human and financial resources needed to implement the plan (in detail):
A first step in bringing this project to life is commissioning a visioning session to
bring neighborhood stakeholders together. With a neighborhood plan in place,
financial resources can be allocated through the industrial revolving loan fund,
façade grants, and the recent TIF realignment which added Linden Avenue to the
River West TIF. Various departments will include line items in their budget over the
next three years to support fundamental neighborhood improvements.
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South Bend Common Council 227 W, Jefferson Blvd. Room 441
County-City Building, South Bend, IN 46601
4. What will this mean to the Common Council/City in opportunities and cost
in one to three years:
The City will partner with businesses along Linden Avenue to create an
Enrichment District that will provide opportunities for young people all over the city.
Youth will be able to engage in activities that allow them to ignite their curiosity
and explore their passions, building academic skills, nurturing social-emotional
learning, and charting a path for career development.
In the 2020 Budget and for the next three years, city departments must allocate
dollars for the Near West and Kennedy Park neighborhoods for investment in:
●infrastructure improvements (streets, sidewalks & curbs, lighting, etc.) from the
Department of Public Works
●Business development and workforce training through the Department of
Community Investment.
●Additional upgrades in programming and park amenities at King Center, pocket
parks, and green space development through Venue Parks & Arts
●restorative, trauma informed practices through the
○Department of Diversity & Inclusion for training and intercultural
development
○Police Department to hire interventionists for community policing
○Animal Care and Welfare for an Animal Based Community Center
5. An alternative plan/other options:
The City will build a permanent supportive housing development in the area and
direct at least 50% of the annual savings to the Near West and Kennedy Park
Neighborhood Associations to fund their plans for development.
For additional information about the Linden Avenue Enrichment District, see
attached.
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