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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRM 09-05-75Sept tuber 5, 1975 10:0q A. M. Presiding Officer: 1. IROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Commissioner Absent: Leaal Counsel: SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Mr. F. Jay Nimtz, President 1200 County -City Building 217 West Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, Indiana 46601 Mr. F. Jay Nimtz, President Mr. John E. Chenney, Vice President Mr. Donald A. Wiggins, Secretary Mr. Robert J. Cira, Member Mr. A. Peter Donaldson, Member Mr. Kevin J. Butler News Media: Ms. Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune Reporter Mr. David Anderson, WNDU -TV Reporter Mr. James L. Marchelewicz, WNDU -TV Photographer Mr. Dan Caesar, WSBT -TV Reporter Mr. Frank Vellner, WSBT -TV Photographer Mr. Larry Ford, WSJV -TV Reporter Others Present: Mr. Hubert Getzinger, Chairman, Downtown South Bend Council Mr. John R. Kagel, Executive Director, Downtown South Bend Council Mr. Edward F. Soltesz, Chairman, Governmental Coordination Committee of River Bend Plaza Advisory Committee Community Development Staff: LPA Staff: Mr. William P. Hojnacki, Director, Human Resources & Economic Development Dept. Mr. Keith P. Crighton Mr. James L. Johnson Mr. C. Wayne Brownell Ms. Helen S. King 2. JAPPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Stanley W. Ryker Mr. Kenneth L. Schaller Mr. William J. Parrish Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Cira and MINUTES carried, for the approval of the Minutes of the Regular APPROVED Meeting of August 15, 1975, as mailed. - 1 - 3. PROVAL OF CLAIMS Motion was made by Mr. Chenney, seconded by Mr. Wiggins and carried, to approve the claims, as submitted, and they be allowed and ordered to be paid, totalling: $59,154.97. The claims authorized are: P.E.A. R -57 James R. Meehan & Associates $ 18.90 Total T 18.90 N.D.P. A -10 stract & Title Corporation $ 52.00 uth Bend Water Works 24.00 Total $ 76.00 . E. A. R -66 1 Estate Purchase W. Joseph Doran, Cause #8067, First Bank & Trust Co., Parcel #20 -2 $ 11,676.00 Relocation Pavments Arrow Electric Co. (One Hour Martinizing) 2,598.00 James Clark (One Hour Martinizing) 6,793.57 Braunsdorf, Inc. (One Hour Martinizing) bid 35.00 L. B. Wiltfong Movers (One Hour Martinizing) bid 30.00 4bstract Co. of St. Joseph County 50.00 Lawson Associates (Dredging Contract) 150.00 Lawson Associates (Plaza Park Contract) 702.00 'lyde E. Williams &Associates 290.72 Total 22,325.29 ZEDEVELOPMENT REVOLVING FUND Payroll: August 9, 1975 through August 22, 1975 $ 6,654.45 3usiness Systems, Inc. 20.78 )ffice Engineers, Inc. 23.83 'ostmaster - Month of August, 1975 19.19 4odel Cities Extended Services 3arnes Electric Co. - Joanna Hudzinski (Electrical) 19.00 Irea Services, Inc. - Joanna Hudzinski (Furnace) 77.00 >t. Vincent dePaul - Edwin & Jessie Jones (Furniture) 94.50 Total 6,908.73 - 2 - 3. 4. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS (Cont'd) BUREAU OF HOUSING E -7 Arrow Services, Inc. (708 E. Broadway) $ 92.00 Ted Combs Decorating & Construction (Contract #37) 4,000.00 Ted Combs Decorating & Construction (Contract #33) 5,856.45 Indiana Terminex Co., Inc. (Contract #31) 10.00 Madison Builders /Western State Bank (Contract #5) 4,814.00 Madison Builders /Western State Bank (Contract #18) 6,145.00 Madison Builders /Western State Bank (Contract #13) 4,075.00 The South Bend Tribune 22.79 Total 2.5, 15.24 DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT CAPITAL Circle Lumber, Inc. $ 306.92 Total 306.92 REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT CAPITAL OF 1972 Aays Rent -Ails $ 906.15 B. & B. Trash Removal 62.00 Colip Bros. Electric, Inc. 28.50 Colip Bros. Electric, Inc. 2,688.48 Indiana Bell Telephone Co. 80.94 Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. 319.24 Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. 322.38 South Bend Water Works 23.45 Curley's Mower Service 72.75 Total 4,503.89 GRAND TOTAL $ 59,154.97 COMMUNICATIONS a. HUD Area Office letter dated August 25, 1975: This letter HUD CONCURS over the signature of Mr. Stephen J. Havens, Director, ON CHANGE Community Planning & Development Division, advises HUD ORDER NO. 1 concurrence of Change Order No. l to Plaza Park Contract TO PLAZA PARK No. 1, which is for a decrease in contract amount of CONTRACT NO. 1, $10,647.50, with the Nautilus Construction Corporation R -66 of Elkhart, Indiana, or an adjusted contract amount of $198,558.50, in Project Indiana R -66. Mr. C. Wayne Brownell, Executive Director, Department of Redevelopment, advised this decrease is due to work we eliminated from the above contract. This work was for paving and sidewalk removal by city employees under the Board of Public Works and agreed to by Nautilus. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Chenney and carried, to receive the above letter and place on file. - 3 - 4. COMMUNICATIONS (Cont'd) b. Downtown South Bend Council letter dated September 4, 1975: POLL OF This letter is over the signature of Mr. Hubert Getzinger, DOWNTOWN President, Downtown South Bend Council, addressed to the MERCHANTS South Bend Redevelopment Commission, and personally handed to the Commissioners and Mr. Brownell. President Nimtz advised he had Mr. Brownell contact Mr. Steve T. McTigue, Executive Vice President, South Bend-Mishawaka Area Chamber of Commerce, to poll the business firms fronting on the 100 block South Michigan and 100 block North Michigan on their reaction in starting the construction activities be- tween Jefferson and Washington Streets. The architects and engineers have advised the plans can be completed, and that we can advertise and receive bids this fall and start con- struction, or that we can advertise and receive bids this fall with starting date of construction to be after the Christmas season. This is the reason this request was made. Mr. Getzinger advised the merchants, in the area in question, were presented with the above plans, and the consensus of the majority of the businesses in that block is that they would like to have this project started after the Christmas season is over. They do not feel this is the time to start this type of project and would prefer to have the work started after the Christmas season, as this would be to the merchants' advantage. The President thanked Mr. Getzinger and the Downtown South Bend Council for their efforts in getting the merchants preferences on the starting time for the construction work. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Cira and carried, to receive the above letter and place on file. c. Announcement for Continuation of Plaza Construction: President Nimtz announced that the Redevelopment Commis- sioners expect to proceed shortly with the advertising, to receive bids and award the contracts for further develop- ment of the River Bend Plaza in the block between Jefferson and Washington Streets. The :Commission expects to invite bids to begin construction in January, 1976, with a June, 1976, completion date for the following reasons: 1) A fall beginning would result in excavation, shoring and footings in the middle of the area limiting pedestrian access during the major merchandising season. 2) Because of planned activities in this space, consideration has been given to arranging for the shortest possible con- struction period. 3) There should be some price advantage in one continuous construction period. - 4 - PLAZA WORK TO BEGIN JANUARY, 1976 4. COMMUNICATIONS (Cont'd) The President also announced that Mr. Donald A. Wiggins, Secre- tary of the South Bend Redevelopment Commission, and the new Director of the River Bend Plaza, will be going to St. Louis, Monday, to see a stage design that our consultants and archi- tects from Pittsburgh suggested the Commissioners see, as a possible portable stage design for our Plaza. This announcement was typed as a News Release and copies were given to the News Media. Mr. Ed Soltesz, Chairman, Governmental Coordination Committee of the River Bend Plaza Advisory Committee said he has a question on the stage - -and "I stand to be corrected if I am wrong - -but when Mr. Chenney chaired the Commission meeting, and it is noted in the Minutes of this Board, it was stated we could not afford to have the stage done and that the acti- vities of the people could not be presented. Now, you are sending a member of the Board to St. Louis. If this has been changed, are you agreeing that we do have people down- town and do have a need for some place downtown to have people perform on a stage ?" Commissioner Wiggins said he made the motion, at the meeting to which Mr. Soltesz refers, that we concur in >the design that was provided in the block to be constructed and to also investigate the possibility of a portable stage in the area of Baer's for space provided, or other areas of the Plaza, and have the possibility for that kind of flexibility. Our consultants have found a stage that they think would be suit- able for our needs and we will now take a look at it. If they like it, Commissioner Wiggins said he will take pictures of the stage. There is a possibility that Commissioner Cira will also go with them to St. Louis. Ne said he prefers to look at the 'actual stage rather than schematics. Mr. Soltesz said the meeting Mr. Wiggins is referring to was chaired by Mr. Nimtz, but that he is referring to the meeting that was chaired by Mr. Chenney, in Mr. Nimtz's absence. "I also stated industry in this area would be willing to meet the cost of a particular stage, and it fell on deaf ears. Now you are saying we will be pursuing a stage in the area." President Nimtz said it was always his understanding that we would have some type of a stage down there. Mr. Dan Caesar, WSBT -TV Reporter, said the trip to St. Louis then is just to investigate the stage possibilities and not for any action at this time, and the Chair confirmed the statement. - 5 - 5. C:1 OLD BUSINESS a. Block 6 Status Report, Project Indiana R -66: Mr. Brownell BLOCK 6 stated we have been negotiating with the only bidder and we STATUS have had several meetings. All I can report is that it is REPORT, in the negotiation stage at this time. R -66 NEW BUSINESS a. Rent Charge -Off, River Bend Plaza Office, R -66: Mr. RENT CHARGE - Brownell advised he has a request from our bookkeeper, OFF FOR PLAZA Mrs. Dorothy Z. Deane, for Commission permission to OFFICE AP- charge off vacated rent on our River Bend Plaza Office PROVED, R -66 at 112 South Michigan Street, in amount of $2,400.00, for the period from April 1 1974 to March 31, 1975, at the rate of $200.00 per month.` We believe the rent amount is uncollectible. Mr. Brownell advised during that period we actually used the building for our own purposes. We used it to store paint for the fire hydrants, plus storage of other things for the Plaza. This just involves a bookkeeping transaction and >Commis - sion authorization for the write -off is requested. Motion was so made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Chenney and carried. b. Resolution No. 517: This Resolution authorizes the execu- RESOLUTION tion of the Redevelopment Agreement for the disposition of NO. 517 band and the execution of Quit Claim Deeds for the transfer ADOPTED, of title thereto in connection with land to be disposed of R -57 in the LaSalle Park Project, Indiana R -57, for: Redeveloper Parcel No. Price Leroy Miller, Liberty St. 12 -24 & 12 -3 $ 404.00 Ben Miles, Jr., N. Chicago St. 29 -3 150.00 W. M. Whiting, Camden St. 13 -2, 13 -3 & 13 -4 512.00 The above are unbuil dable parcels in the Project. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Chenney and carried, for the adoption of Resolution No. 517. Mr. Wiggins advised most of these requests are from people who want to expand their lawn area or to use the land for garden purposes. The muck land would make it prohibitive for building purposes. We may request the Park Department to make mini parks out of these as a solution. A NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) c. Change Order No. 1 to Rehabilitation Contract No. 219 E -7: .Commission approval was requested for this Change Order, with Barany Heating, for rehabilitation work at 1318 Fellows Street, in amount of $50.00, for an amended contract total of: $5,450.00, Project E -7. The memorandum from Mr. James Johnson, Chief Inspector, Southeast Bureau of Housing, requests approval of this Change Order, for following reasons: "The technical speci- fications call for the installation of new faucets on the lavatory. To complete the job properly, the staff agrees with the contractor and the homeowner that the crown vent and S -trap should also be installed. The additional cost would be $50.00. The lavatory is located in the second floor bath- room over the kitchen, and, at present, water is leaking down through the floor and ceiling of the kitchen. This presents a serious health problem and should be corrected." Mr. Keith P. Crighton, Director, Bureau of Housing, said in connection with the plumbing, he was told they need a crown vent and an S -trap. Commissioner Chenney responded that an "S" trap is not allowed to be used in the City of South Bend; they would have to use a "P" trap, or whatever is needed. Mr. Crighton advised the plumber will be respon- sible for whatever is necessary to come up to South Bend code. Barany Heating's change order requests: "Second Floor Bathroom Lavatory - Replace crown vent and S -trap and tie into existing plumbing.lines. $50.00." Motion for the approval of the above change order was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Cira and carried, for an increase in contract amount of $50.00. d. Change Order No. l to Rehabilitation Contract No. 39; 1 E -7: Commission approval was requested for this Change Order, with Barany Heating, for rehabilitation work at 718 East Ohio Street, in amount of $260.00, for an amended contract total of: $5,455.00, Project E -7. The memorandum from Mr. James Johnson, Chief Inspector, Southeast Bureau of Housing, requests approval of this Change Order. "The technical specifications call for the replacement of bathtub fixtures. To complete the job properly, the staff agrees with the contractor and the homeowner that the bathtub should also be replaced. The additional cost would be $260.00. The bathtub is located in the first floor bathroom next to the kitchen. Since the time of the initial inspection, the bathtub has corroded and the water lines are leaking. This presents a serious health problem and should be corrected.'" - 7 - CHANGE ORDER NO. TO REHAB CONTRACT NO. 21 APPROVED, E -7 CHANGE ORDER NO. TO REHAB CONTRACT NO. 39 APPROVED, E -7 A NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) Motion for the approval of the above change order was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Cira and carried, for an increase in contract amount of $260.00. e. Change Order No. 1 to Rehabilitation Contract No. 40, E -7: Commission approval was requested for this Change Order, which is requested by the homeowner, for changes in rehabi- litation work, at 624 East Keasey Street, with no change in contract price. The Contract was awarded to ABC Plumbing & Heating, Inc., in contract amount of $4,977.79, Project E -7. The memorandum from Mr. Kenneth J. Schaller, Project Director, Southeast Bureau of Housing, requests approval of the Change Order. The owner submitted his request, in writing, dated August 20, 1975. Subsequent to the owner's request, the staff contacted the contractor (ABC Plumbing & Heating, Inc.) to submit a cost estimate of what could be done to accommodate the owner. The owner is requesting: In'the bathroom, they would rather have the walls and ceiling repaired than have new flooring. In the kitchen, they are requesting a sink and cabinets instead of the kitchen flooring. The reason is the same as for the bathroom, they can't have both, so they prefer to have a good sink "that works properly. Perhaps we can fix the flooring later." CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 TO REHAB CONTRACT NO. 40 APPROVED, E -7 The contractor states the walls and ceiling in the bathroom are in very bad shape due to the roof leaking for some period of time. The owner also requested a new metal sink cabinet with new faucets and trap. Additions: Kitchen sink, cabinet - install sink base cabinet and replace faucets and trap $ 270.00 Bathroom walls and ceiling - drywall and tape walls and ceiling 243.60 Total $ 513.60 Deletions: Kitchen floor - install 1/4" under - layment and cover with tile $ 210.00 Bathroom lavatory - install new lavatory 180.00 Dining room screens - install two aluminum combinations 81.60 Second floor living room screen - install one aluminum combination 42.00 Total $ 513.60 Mr. Keith Crighton, Director, Bureau of Housing, advised the above changes are at the home owners request. One of the specific items is the kitchen sink, and under the guidelines 7. NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd it does not warrant being replaced as it is not in that serious condition, but the homeowners preference is that the other items be deleted to permit the contract price increase. Legal Counsel, Mr. Kevin J. Butler, asked if the homeowners are agreeable to the deletions, and Mr. Crighton advised they are, and that they have been negotiating for about a month and a half for the above. Motion for the approval of the above change order was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Cira and carried, for the above requested changes, with no increase in contract amount. PROGRESS REPORTS a. Contract II -E: Mr. Brownell advised the sidewalks and sidewalk ramps are being put in and the work is approxi- mately 90% complete. Photographs were shown to the Commissioners for "before" and "after" completion. b. Colfax /Pier Park Dredging Contract No. 1: Mr. Brownell advised this contract, awarded to Nautilus Construction Company, is approximately 90% complete. They built a foundation of rocks -- riprap - -to protect the base of the bridge pier from erosion. CONTRACT II -E PROGRESS REPORT, R -66 COLFAX /PIER PARK DREDGING CONTRACT PROGRESS REPORT, R -66 The Plaza Park Contracts have been awarded for the park PLAZA PARK area along the St. Joseph River, from Jefferson Street to CONTRACTS, Monroe Street. The contractors will be meeting to put PROGRESS their schedules together. Mr. Brownell said Mr. Bill REPORT, R -66 Slabaugh had advised him that everything is progressing well. c. Acquisition Status Report: Written report was submitted by Mr. William J. Parrish, Real Estate Officer, per following projects: R -57: Remains the 382 Parcels totalling 4 R -66: Remains the 228 Parcels ling 229. same - -one remaining to be acquired. purchased, 18 Condemnation Cases, )0. same - -three (3) remain to be acquired. purchased, 1 Condemnation Case, total- Merry Avenue: Purchases completed. 40 Parcels-pur- chased. Two Condemnation Cases, totalling 42. ACQUISITION STATUS RE- PORT, R -57, R -66, MERRY AVENUE & A -10 7. PROGRESS REPORTS (Cont'd) NDP A -10: All parcels acquired. MN #1: 34 Parcels purchased, 1 Condemnation Case, totalling 35. SE #1: 62 Parcels purchased, 8 Condemnation Cases, totalling 70. d. Relocation Progress Report: Written report was submitted RELOCATION by the Relocation Staff, for the month of August, 1975: PROGRESS REPORT City -Wide: Status remains the same as report in July report. Southeast NDP A -10: Workload Three (3) families; three 3 individuals. Efforts will be made to contact residents o'f 230 East Paris Street the 1st week of September. Model Cities Extended Services: Workload- -two (2) fami- lies. Both have purchased homes and are waiting to move. E -7 NDP: Workload -- three (3) families. Working with two of the families. Model Cities Sewer Separation: Workload - -one (1) family; one (lT individual. Both have purchased homes and will move when houses are vacated. e. Southeast Bureau of Housing Report: Written report was SOUTHEAST submitted by Mr. Kenneth J. Schaller, Project BUREAU OF Director, for August, 1975. HOUSING REPORT As of 29th of August,.they have had 31 applicants to the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program. Thirty - three inspections have been performed (two applicants have had second inspections), and additional inspec- tions are being scheduled for each new applicant to the program. Letters of application are being typed and will be mailed to homeowners in the project area. The letters inform the homeowner of the housing re- habilitation program in the southeast area. Continuing with the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program is the Neighborhood Development Program with a total of sixty -six (66) homes on contract. Pre- sently, thirty -one (31) notices to proceed have been issued. Sixteen (16) homes are completed and progress inspections are being made daily during the construc- tion period of each house. Staff hopes to advertise its first Community Develop- ment contract set within the next two weeks. - 10 - 7. 91 PROGRESS REPORTS (Cont'd) f. E-6-Model Neighborhood Code Enforcement Project: Mr. E -6 MODEL John Davis, Project Director of the E -6 Program, NEIGHBORHOOD submitted his written report for August, 1975. CODE ENFORCE - MENT PROJECT Work is continuing in the E -6 Code Enforcement REPORT Area. Four (4) contractors are presently engaged in physical rehabilitation. A total of two (2) homes were rehabilitated during the month of August. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING The next Regular Meeting of the Redevelopment Commission will NEXT be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 19, 1975, in the Office COMMISSION of the Department of redevelopment. MEETING: 9 -19 -75 OTHER DISCUSSIONS a. Downtown Renewal: Ms. Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune DOWNTOWN Reporter, brought up the subject of Hans - Rintzsch Luggage RENEWAL Shop's announcement of their closing, and that Mr. Paulsen, DISCUSSIONS the owner, at the time said he just couldn't wait five or ten years for something that is indefinite to start. He didn't think downtown could survive another five years, and she stated she feels that is a very valid question that has to be faced, if South Bend can be expected to survive. The five -year determination was based on time element to build and not much could be expected before the five -year period, and how long will Block 6 be there? Commissioner Wiggins advised at the moment our country is in a state of economic transition, to say the least. Most every merchant in this community could use more business- - not only downtown- -but all the other areas. One of the real factors lies in the community impact. A developer will not invest money until he has a reasonable assurance on his investment; he would be foolish otherwise. The developer must have assurance the community will support the downtown area. In fact, there is a great deal of emphasis placed on the negative. Commissioner Cira added that he businessmen, and that if you go get it, but you have to promote come to you. He cited personal lacked parking facilities that business being successful. comes from a family of after business, you will the business. It will not business examples that is not deterrent to the Mr. Ed Soltesz said that just about everybody in this room either represents the Commission, staff, or the news media, with the exception of Mr. John Kagel, representing the Chamber of Commerce, while I am a representative of the U.A.W. They take the position of what is being said, but, - 11 - M OTHER DISCUSSIONS (Cont'd also, the Commissioners have to do what they can. What Commis - sioner Cira says is right. You can't stand by your cash register and expect business to come to you. We are expending money sub - sidizing the outlying shopping areas. We all have a responsi- bility and we are all responsible for the things not being done, if that is the problem. The people elect the officials and the elected officials must meet their responsibilities, and, if not, the people should see to it that they do. If there is nothing we can do about it as individuals, then we are all wrong. Let's all accept that responsibility - -I, as well as you - -as well as everybody in this room--in this City. In reference to Ms. Derbeck's question on the shopping center, Commissioner Wiggins said, "What you can-legally do with it, with that or any other shopping center, is that the community can assess a fair price for the land that they park cars on, instead of assessing it on the basis of farm land, and, in effect, doing just what Ed Soltesz said, 'subsidizing.' Now, in many communities, this is already happening. They are re- evaluating the parking areas and jacking the price up where it belongs, because if they didn't have a rip -off situation, they wouldn't.be building them out there. They wouldn't be so much cheaper to build them out in the cornfield and it is much easier than going through all the problems that we have with the down- town areas, but when the downtown goes to pot, you lose a large portion of your tax base, and the 'John -Q public' sitting out here in the residential neighborhood is going to pick up the difference. He has a stake in what happens downtown. Now, he may not recognize it; he may not be aware of it, but he has a very definite financial stake in the wealth of the down- town area. Now, they need to know this. Further lengthy discussions followed concerning a lack of imaginative and aggressive leadership in the downtown. Commissioner Wiggins submitted an idea which he said may have some possibilities, and that is to have a giant garage sale in the supergraphic area because garage sales seem to attract all sorts of people and generate all sorts of traffic. Mr. Dan Caesar, WSBT -TV Reporter, asked, "Where are you on the negotiations ?" Mr. Butler answered: "We are at a point today and I am confident that we will have something concrete to report on the negotiations at the next Commission meeting." b. Plaza Office: Ms. Derbeck asked if the Plaza Office will re- PLAZA main open, and Mr. Brownell advised the Plaza Office is open OFFICE, and will remain open. The announcement of the new Plaza R -66 Director will be made by the Mayor. - 12 - 0 101 ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, motion was duly made by Mr. ADJOURNMENT Cira for adjournment, at 11:35 a.m. . I w&34a=vrowne i i , txecni ve - 971*64u, F. Jay N mtz, Pres i dent (SAL) - 13 -