Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRM 11-19-76�a SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING November 19, 1976 10:00 A. . Presidin Officer: Mr. F. Jay Nimtz President 1200 County -City Building 217 West Jefferson Blvd. 1. ROLL CALL Com issioners Mr. F. Jay Nimtz, President Present Mr. Donald A. Wiggins, Vice President Mr. A. Peter Donaldson, Secretary Mr. Lloyd E. Robinson, Sr., Member Legal Counsel Mr. Kevin J. Butler Mr. George T. Patton News Media Ms. Jeanne Derbeck, South Bend Tribune Reporter Mr. Larry Ford, WSJV -TV Reporter Mr. Mike Newman, WSJV -TV Photographer Mr. Dan Caesar, WSBT -TV Reporter Others Present Mr. Gene Evans, Exec. Secretary, Civic Planning Assn. Mr. John V. Lindstaedt, Fair Tax Assn. 7 Mr. Dave Gruver, Dictaphone Corporation Comj uni ty Development Mr. Staff Mr. Mr. LPA Staff Mr. Ms. Mr. Keith P. Crighton John Davis Richard E. Pfeifer C. Wayne Brownell Mr. James J. Rowan Gertrude E. Barth Marc Brammer 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On liotion by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November "5, 1976 were approved as mailed. 3. APPROVAL OF CLAIMS On motion by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried, the claims were approved, as submitted, and were allowed and ord red to be paid - totalling $38,159.24. MINUTES APPROVED CLAIMS APPROVED COMMISSIONERS" REGULAR MEETING Page 2 Friday, November 19, 1976 3. ThO authorized claims are: PROJECT EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT, INDIANA R -57 tract Co. of St. Joseph County, Inc. $ 25.00 Ab Ab tract & Title Corporation 50.00 George T. Patton 560.00 Total $ 635.00 PROJECT EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT, INDIANA Systems, Inc. R -66 $ 191.80 Business Na tilus /Kuert Concrete, Inc. 1,884.92 Na tilus Construction Corporation 8,000.00 Total $10,076.72 312e LOANS ert & Helen Hubler /South Bend Roofing $ 1,867.00 Ro Ka alyn Brooks /Joseph J. Plaia 11,840.50 Mary Ann Norman /Joseph J. Plaia 9,777.50 Total $23,485.00 REDEVELOPMENT REVOLVING FUND Payroll: October 16 to October 29, 1976 $ 3,335.46 Amoco Oil Company 73.19 Kevin J. Butler 200.00 Business Systems, Inc. 16.82 ComTiunity Development Program 337.05 $-3,962.52 GRAND TOTAL $38,159.24 REI BURSEMENT TO REVOLVING FUND Expenditure Account, Indiana R -66 $ 3,175.67 Project 4. CORRESPONDENCE a. St. Joseph River Bend Development Corp. letter dated November 9, EASEMENT 1976: This letter concerns the easement between Indiana & INDIANA R -66 Michigan Electric Company and the parties of interest in BLOCK 6 the Block 6 Development. Mr. Brownell read the above letter and suggested that it be placed on file. The Chair indicated that it was more appropriate to refer the matter to legal counsel.—Mr—Wiggins so moved, seconded .by Mr. Donaldson and carried. Mr. Brownell noted that he would like to discuss the matter with Mr. Butler. COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Page 3 Friday, November 19, 1976 4. C M c 91 e. ESPONDENCE, CONT. St. Joseph River Bend Development Corp. letter dated Nov. 10, 1976, signed by Lloyd S. Taylor: This letter concerns a problem which the contractor has encountered in the con- struction of the site improvements in Block 6. Mr. Brownell read this letter from Mr. Taylor and indicated that he had personally discussed the matter with Mr. Taylor and told him that he (Brownell) did not feel the Department is obligated in the matter since River Bend Development had the opportunity to check all of these items ahead of time. Mr. Wiggins asked whether we have any recourse if the sewer line is not as it was guaranteed to us. The Chair asked if the drawings were done by the City Engineer's office - Mr. Brownell said the drawings were done by the Contractor and certified by the Engineer's office. The Chair then indicated that unless there was some objection he would refer this letter to Mr. Butler. Being none, such letter was referred to Legal Counsel. HUD Area Office letter, dated November 3, 1976, signed by Albert G. Smith for Stephen J. Havens: This letter referred to the redevelopment of Disposition Parcel 2 -6A by Peoples First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. and approved redeveloper's statement for such purpose. Mr. Wiggins moved to place this letter on file. Mr. Donaldson seconded the motion and it carried. IND. R -66 BLOCK 6 SEWER LINE COLUMBIA ST. DISP. PARCEL 2 -6A, IND. R -66 PEOPLES FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS & LOAN ASSN. John G. Pence Associates, Inc. dated November 16, 1976, signed IND. R -66 by John G. Pence, President: This letter is an update of one REUSE APPRAISAL received 10 -7 -76, same subject, land use change in R -66. Mr. JOHN G. PENCE Brownell indicated that the principal change here is a clari- fication of the number of housing units for elderly housing. Mr. Brownell pointed out to Mr. Pence that we did not increase elderly housing units only, we simply increased the housing units from 200 to 350, 211 of which were for elderly housing and the balance could be used for any purpose. Mr. Pence also included data to substantiate his findings. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins and seconded by Mr. Robinson and carried, to place this letter on file. HUD Area Office letter, dated November 15, 1976, signed by IND. R -57 Stephen J. Havens, Director Community Planning & Development: PROJECT CLOSE - C. Wayne Brownell read this letter and indicated this concerns OUT a budgetary matter with total project expenditures estimated to be $4,875,046 - plus the rehabilitation and relocation payments, or anticipated final total of $5,549,670. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins with second by Mr. Robinson and carried, to place this letter on file. COMMISS ONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 4 Friday, November 19, 1976 5. OLD BUSINESS a. Change Order No. 5 and Pay Estimate No. 10, Contract No. 1, Plaza IND R -66 Park, with Nautilus Construction Co., Project Indiana R -66: PLAZA PARK CONTRACT NO. C. Wayne Brownell stated that this is a final change order for CHANGE ORDER total adjusted contract price of $207,665.23. The original #5 contract bid price was $209,206.00 - thus we show a couple thousand dollars under the original contract price. Mr. Robinson indicated he did not understand how this change order could represent an increase in contract price if the final contract amount is under the original bid. Mr. Brownell stated that this is the fifth (5th) change order and each of the change orders represented an increase or decrease in the contract price. One change order was for a reduction in the contract of $10,000, thus the final amount represents an over- all reduction in price. Mr. Brownell further stated that the final change order was rejected as previously rendered and stated that he told Nautilus he wanted no part of this until it was clearly agreed upon and approved by the engineers. Mr. Donaldson asked what the weather shield credit represented. Mr. Brownell said he wasn't able to answer but presumed it might be for money set aside to protect the work and it wasn't needed because of the weather. Mr. Rninson asked if the contractor has to guarantee his work for approximately a year like any normal contract. Mr. Brownell replied that he thought the contractor must guarantee the exposed aggregate for three years. Mr. Butler asked if the landscape work was all completed and Mr. Brownell indicated that this has not been finalled out. Mr. Robinson asked if there would be any money held in escrow until after the year guarantee is up and Mr. Brownell stated he did not think there was any money in escrow. Mr. Butler indicated that there is a bond that is supposed to take effect for a three year period, to take effect upon completion of the work. Mr. Brownell stated that there is still a conflict between Nautilus and a lumber company and we are holding that portion of the payment until the problem is resolved and we know how much each one gets. This is between their attorneys. The total amount has been deter- mined but the apportionment between the two has not. This lumber company was a supplier of Nautilus. Gene Evans asked if the approximately 54 items on the four tabulated pages come up to a total of $6,000 increase. Mr. Brownell explained that these items represent final measurements, these are the items which cover "so many feet of this" and "so many yards of that ", the actual amount used compared to the projected amount in the COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 5 Friday, November 19, 1976 5. OLDI BUSINESS, CONT. original contract. Each of these measurements comes up to a plus or minus to the original contract price. Mr. Evans asked if this $6,000 was a previously agreed to work item. Mr. Brownell said that it was since no one knew in advance how much of bach would be needed. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, with second by Mr. Donaldson and car ied, to approve the above change order, #5. 6. Change Orders, various, for extension of time (30 days) for Madison CHANGE ORDERS a -i Builders, Inc.Northwest Community Development Program. VARIOUS CON- TRACTS, NORTH- The 3e change orders represent a request for thirty day extension WEST COMMUNITY of ontract time by Madison Builders due to the closing of a DEVELOP. PROGR sup flier, South Bend Aluminum Center, as follows: EXTENSION OF TIME Robert & Anita Betty, Jr. 752 N. Cleveland Contr. NWCD /PR /CS -1 /01 Mary L. Coleman 517 N. Blaine " -1/02 Lee E. Watson Wan a Hardesty Jea nette W. Stewart Ire a Minnis Owei & Alberta Thomas Edm nd & Irene Vitou Louse Roundtree 612 N. Walnut " -1/04 537 N. Euclid " -1/05 656 LaPorte Ave It -1/06 537 N. Cleveland " -1/07 515 N. Cleveland " -1/08 672 N. Lawndale " -1/09 504 N. Euclid Ave. 11 -1 /11 The time extension is from November 3, 1976 to December 4, 1976 and applies to all of the above contracts. Keith Crighton indicated that it would be acceptable to approve all nine cha ge orders by block motion. The Chair asked whether the new supplier wil enable the contractor to finish in the stipulated time and he said that Mr. Madison has so stated. Mr. Robinson asked if it would be for the sama price. Keith said, "I think it will be more expensive,, but we don't anticipate any change orders, Mr. Madison is bound by his contract." Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried, to pprove above change orders extending contract completion time to Dec mber 4, 1976. COMMISSI NERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 6 Friday, lovember 19, 1976 6. (j) Consideration of request for fund allocation for non - profit groups for rehab of the following structures, per recommendation of the Southeast Advisory Board. C. Wayne Brownell read the letter from Mr. Kenneth Schaller and then asked Keith Crighton if his understanding of the program is that this money will be used for reha of the structures by a non - profit corporation which furnishes the labor for this work.... is this assumption correct? Keith indi ated that this is true, it comes under the non - profit group reha program which has been in existence since 1974 and in the past they have had a high degree of success with it. Mr. Robinson inquired as to whether we have had our inspectors check the projects out after the work was done. Keith stated that his department prepares the specs and Renew, Inc. does the work with volunteer labor. Dan Caesar asked if they are licensed contractors. REQUEST FOR REHAB FUNDS RENEW, INC. ETC, (NON- PROFIT) BUR. OF HOUSING SOUTH - APPROVE[ Keith said that the work they do on a voluntary basis includes painting sometimes a plumber who donates his services- they have to pay for the electrical work they have done, then they have ,a roofer. They buy the materials and he puts them up, like on week ends. Dan (.:For free? How many workers are there altogether? Keit�: Yes, for free - and the work force varies from six to fifteen or sixteen. Mr. 4iggins asked whether these non - profit groups were all church- sponsored. Mr. Crighton indicated that Renew, Inc. is the central division, at Christ the King Church and the rest of the divisions are entered in neighborhood parishes...St. Augustines, St. Matthews, etc. The Chair indicated that Southhold has had some contact with these people which has all been favorable with good reports on relation- ships and their work. Mr. diggins observed that it was great to have such people willing to do s )mething in terms of helping the neighborhoods. Keith explained that with the home ownership program, the people have a 12 week home ownership course which they must attend before they are eligible to purc ase a home. Then the Renew, Inc. group sells them the home and property at no profit. After the house is paid for, the homeowner has a standard unit and is familiar with the various methods of proper main- tenance and how to budget. This is really an excellent program. The question was asked as to why we need a separate motion for each property and Keith explained that the Advisory Board approved them individually, so motion for approval must be on an individual basis. Mr. Wiggins made the motion to approve request for 709 S. Liberty St., in the amou t of $1,443.00, Renew, Inc., seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried. Mr. 4iggins moved to approve request for rehab of 710 W. Wayne, in the amou t of $3,454.00, Renew, Inc., seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried. Mr. 4iggins moved to approve request for rehab of 735 Huey St., in the amou t of $5,000.00, Renew, Inc., seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried. COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 7 Friday, November 19, 1976 6. (j) ont. Mr. Wiggins moved to approve request for rehab funds for 744 Diamond Avenue, $3,287.00, Renew, Inc. Holy Cross Division, with sec nd by Mr. Donaldson, motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins to approve request for rehab funds for 112 Birner St., Renew, Inc., Holy Cross Division, $1,432.00, seconded by r. Donaldson and carried. Motion was made by Mr. Wiggins to approve request for rehab funds for 722 S. Grant St., $3,701.00, Renew, Inc. Spanish Division, seconded by Mr. Donaldson and carried. (k) Southeast Bureau/Housin g Contract Award, Contract Set #6A..... C. Wayne Brownell read the letter from Kenneth Schaller stating that this bid from Slatile Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. for $7,980.00 Contract No. 44, was the only bid received. Mr. Wiggins asked if this bid comes within the range of our estimates. Keith said it is a little high but our problem is that this is the third time we have advertised on this in an attempt to get the cost down and we have been unable to do it ... the house is just in poor condition. Mr. Wiggins asked if it was fair to say that if we don't do something soon, it will be a lost cause and Keith said "Yes, I'd sure say that." Mr. Robinson asked if someone is residing in the house now and Keith indicated that all of their houses are owner occupied. CONTRACT SET #6 -A, SOUTH- EAST BUREAU OF HOUSING AWARDED TO SLATILE ROOF, CONTRACT CS- 5/44 Mr. Linstaedt inquired whether about 90% of all bids received by South - East Bureau of Housing come from Slatile and Madison? Keith said that they receive bids sporadically from Brown Maintenance, Slatile, Madison Combs Construction and others but this is a bad time of year, with contractors trying to finish up their work from this past summer and he d es not expect any increase in bidding until about January or February. Mr. iggins then moved to approve award of contract to Slatile Roofing & Sh et Metal, Inc. in the amount of $7,980.00, subject to Common Council and Legal Counsel review and approval, seconded by Mr. Robinson and otion carried. (1) Southeast Bureau /Housing Contracts Award, Contract Set #6A... CONTRACT SET C. Wayne Brownell read the letter from Mr. Schaller requesting award #6A, SOUTHEA� of contracts as recommended by the Southeast Advisory Board, as BUREAU OF follows: HOUSING -CS -6i CS-6/47 717 E. Wenger St. $2,886.00 Slatile Roofing,etal 47,48,49 and '. CS-6/48 206 E. Sample St. 2,960.00 " " CONTRACTS CS-6/49 127 E. Dubail Ave. 4,870.00 AWARDED TO CS-6/50 605 -07 E. Keasey St. 2,920.00 " SLATILE ETAL COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETINGS Novembe 19, 1976 Paae 8 6. (I) cont. Mr. Wiggins asked Mr. Crighton whether these figures were alsc within the estimates. Keith asked permission to jump ahead to Ite 6(m) - all the houses included in 6(k), (1) and (m) were part of one contract. The Advisory Committee selected those homes where the bid was closest to the estimate, proportionately, and rejected those ite s that were not proportionate to our cost estimate. Mr. Wiggins moved to approve award of above contracts as set forth, wit second by Mr. Donaldson..motion carried. (m) Southeast Bureau /Housing Contracts Set #6A, Rejected ... C. Wayne Brownell read Mr. Schaller's letter which recommended rejection of the following contracts, per recommendation by the Southeast Advisory Boa d: Mr. Wiggins moved to reject the above contracts with review and re- adv rtisement for bids as soon as possible. Motion was seconded by Mr. Robinson and carried. 7. PROGRESS REPORTS There were no progress reports. SOUTHEAST BUR. HOUSING CONTRACTS CS- 6/45,6/46,6/51 and -6/52 REJECTED 8. Following a solicitation of comments from the press and /or the public by the Chair, there was an animated discussion of the Sears decision to move from the downtown area with Mr. Dan Caesar of WSBT -TV asking- quote: for some assurances that this kind of thing does not happen again - and the downtown deteriorate even further since the Department of Rede- vel pment played a prime role in the Sears decision and that of other businesses, to relocate elsewhere ". The Chair: "I might say that we are not discouraged or disheartened by the Sears announcement, I am sure that we are going forward- I have reason to believe that the Mayor and Dr. Wing are proceeding with further plans and personally, I have no doubt that South Bend will survive and we will be a livable, viable community." Mr. Caesar: "What active role is the Redevelopment Department taking to insure that something like this does not happen again with the remaining business downtown ?" The Chair indicated that this Department has had inquiries from people who are interested in moving downtown - since the Sears announcement - and discussions are being held with these people and Mr. Brownell, but we are not at liberty to disclose who they are at this time. Plans ARE being formulated for future development of the downtown. S -6/45 626 E. Dubail Ave. $6,945.00 Slatil.e Roofing,etal S -6/46 1214 S. Carroll St. 7,540.00 " S -6/51 1803 S. Fellows St. 6,908.00 S -6/52 420 E. Haney St. 11,520.00 " Mr. Wiggins moved to reject the above contracts with review and re- adv rtisement for bids as soon as possible. Motion was seconded by Mr. Robinson and carried. 7. PROGRESS REPORTS There were no progress reports. SOUTHEAST BUR. HOUSING CONTRACTS CS- 6/45,6/46,6/51 and -6/52 REJECTED 8. Following a solicitation of comments from the press and /or the public by the Chair, there was an animated discussion of the Sears decision to move from the downtown area with Mr. Dan Caesar of WSBT -TV asking- quote: for some assurances that this kind of thing does not happen again - and the downtown deteriorate even further since the Department of Rede- vel pment played a prime role in the Sears decision and that of other businesses, to relocate elsewhere ". The Chair: "I might say that we are not discouraged or disheartened by the Sears announcement, I am sure that we are going forward- I have reason to believe that the Mayor and Dr. Wing are proceeding with further plans and personally, I have no doubt that South Bend will survive and we will be a livable, viable community." Mr. Caesar: "What active role is the Redevelopment Department taking to insure that something like this does not happen again with the remaining business downtown ?" The Chair indicated that this Department has had inquiries from people who are interested in moving downtown - since the Sears announcement - and discussions are being held with these people and Mr. Brownell, but we are not at liberty to disclose who they are at this time. Plans ARE being formulated for future development of the downtown. COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Novembe 19, 1976, Friday Paqe 9 8. Open1 discussion, continued.... Mr. Caesar: "One of the big questions that Sears had was parking - it appeared that the downtown area could not give Sears adequate parking and that is one of the reasons they decided to move elsewhere." Mr. Wiggins pointed out that it was his understanding from people who had talked to Sears officials, what Sears was saying was that they prefer "ground'level" parking, "now obviously downtown we can't provide that quantity of ground level parking because there isn't that much ground and the ground itself has too much value to be used as 'a' space for 'a' car." It was pointed out by Mr. Wiggins that in the original feasibility study and program for downtown we had programmed five parking garages if your recall, which pointed to the fact that parking was a major consideration. It still is. In the orderly development of the balance of the downtown area, parking will have to be a consideration. Mr. Wiggins further stated that people ought to consider that we don't have a cr stal ball that tells us what is going to happen in the future any- more than anyone else does. We have hired experts who were supposed to be the best in this field and it turns out that their crystal ball was cloudy too. It's real easy when it's all over for people to come along and say "hey, you did it wrong ". We have said it to ourselves on occasion but we are going to do the best job we can do - we will try and predict the future as best we can. A part of this thing that should be borne in mind too, the Tribune published just the other day a rather lengthy article by Phil Welber who is the manager of Robertsons' Department Store and "I thought it was a very upbeat, optimistic kind of article ". Phil is doing a good business - this is what we have tried to hold up to other people, we really believe the opportunity is here. We think Sears had a great chance and I am sorry they didn't take it but that was their decision and I think that a part of what people need to understand is that you cannot force people into decisions. Ms. Derbeck asked, "What about the continuation of the Mall now, in the block between Jefferson and Washington - we have been held off on that at the Mayor's request - to see what would happen with Superblock ?" Mr. Wiggins: "I think this has to be part of the overall new look at that property and how it can best be developed to accomodate the change in use that appears to be on the scene. The Mall was held off in antici- pation of Superblock and that confirmation is just a nice piece of history now." J. erbeck: "It means then that you are not going forward with continu- ing the Mall ?" Chair: "I think that as Don says we should wait until we see what we are going to do with that area." Ms. Derbeck: "Because I have been talking with some of the merchants and the are not all happy with the Mall. Some people think they would just as soon have some parking and street traffic ". COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 10 Frid _Y, November 19, 1976 Open discussion, continued....... Mr. Wiggins indicated that's what they have down there right now. Dan Caesar: "Are you saying that there's a possibility that you won't be finishing the north end of the Mall, where the supergraphic is ?" Chair: "It depends on what goes in there." Mr. Caesar: "Suppose no businesses locate there, what will you do with the property ?" Mr. Wiggins: "We can't look forward to this being vacant property for the next ten years, we expect to do something for it and we think there's a market for it - suppose we were to proceed with some sort of cosmetic treatment of this street as was planned in several different plans and then we come up with some people who would like to locate in that area and who will want some different conformation that will fit in with their plans - then we have fouled the whole thing up ". D. Caesar: "May I interrupt, what about the finished Mall and the empty stores that are there- you're not really sure what's going to happen there are you ?" Mr. Wiggins: "True, like I said, the crystal ball is cloudy and we can't forecast the future. There's plenty of space in the downtown area and according to George Wing, he is getting what he feels are responsible requests for information as a result of the "City in a Box'. Other businesses have inquired I am sure as to the cost for them to be downtown, what kind of space they can have fur business, that sort of thing ". D. Caesar: "Regardless of the economic situation - and we can always blame it on the economic situation - people are always going to blame the Redevelopment Department for tearing up the downtown and making it beautiful but with no retail outlets downtown. Isn't there going to have to be much more of an effort to attract people downtown before you start remodelling, making cosmetic changes to the rest of the Mall etc ?" Both Mr. Wiggins and Mr. Brownell asked Mr. Caesar what kind of efforts he had in mind. His response was that he didn't know "you are the Redevelopment department ". He also said, "You are charged with that, that's what you have to consider before you do anything more I would think.....". Gene Evans: "Mr. Chairman, I certainly don't have to defend the Redevelopment Department but I've heard this line of questioning and these kinds of attitudes a number of times and I am inclined to COMM SSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 11 Frid y, November 19, 1976 8. Ppen discussion, continued.... emind people when they ask these questions, 'do you remember what t was like before the Redevelopment Department started ... with the mpty stores and the trash in front of the doorways and nobody here to sweep it out, is that what we want to go back to ?" . Caesar: "That was a matter of taking care of maintenance down - Nn, as far as the trash and stuff..... . Evans: "But nobody was doing it ". . Caesar: "There were businesses downtown then but they aren't here now ". r. Wiggins: "I think that a big part of our problem is the attitude f the community - and a big part of the attitude of the community s the responsibility of the media, you have a large part in de- ermining attitudes ". Caesar: "The community isn't going to put stores downtown ". r. Wiggins: "Part of that is reflected by the bias of the guy who s doing the reporting ". Several of those present followed this omment with an "amen ". r. Caesar: "I recorded your statements, those of Mr. Nimtz and yours D. Wiggins) and they are going to go on the air with slight editing or time limitations only and the essence of what you say has always been put forward to the people with no bias on my part whatsoever - nd I dislike that kind of comment. I report the facts as you present hem here." evin Butler: "Dan, I think that you opened though with a couple uestions with respect to your analysis of and impression of, what ublic opinion is ". r. Caesar: "I present the questions in order to gain answers ". r. Wiggins: "But these questions which start out 'have you stopped eating your wife...' it kind of puts you in a box you know ". r. Butler: "I am not so sure that the public generally is blaming he Redevelopment Department." r. Caesar: "Who else ?" r. Butler: "I don't know ". Evans: "Why does the public have to blame anybody ?" COM ISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Pag 12 Fri ay. November 19, 1976 8. Open discussion, continued..... Ms. Derbeck: "They could blame a Mayor or two ". Mr. Wiggins: "They do, they do ". Mr. Lindstaedt said that it seemed we have the best of two worlds here, the parks and the scenic view which South Bend has improved over the years but the bottom line that comes to any organization is parking, no matter how you go about it. The main issue right here in the downtown area is parking, and how do we get this bond issue retired and get this white elephant off our backs. Mr. Caesar said that 'parking" was an issue with Sears officials, some of whom he talked with personally. Ms. Derbeck asked whose side he (Mr. Caesar) was on—and he said he was just making a comment. The Chair: "Dan, I rhink Don has answered that - they (Sears) like surface parking and in the downtown area, surface parking is ex- pensive." Ms. Derbeck: "I've got to say that we don't know that parking was the big question, that's what they said ". r. Wiggins: "I think there are probably emotional values in these decisions, it's hard to be a completely reasonable person because people are not machines, and you have to have some feelings cranked in..." Mr. Caesar: "Another reason was people are afraid to come downtown at night, in spite of all the comments that were made about that, increased foot patrols, etc., that was another prime concern of the Sears officials, they were losing business because people were afraid to come downtown ". r. Wiggins: "I think Sears - and I can understand how it would happen his way - had cranked South Bend into their projections, along with very other community they have an interest in. Well, South Bend is not 'every other community' and we have some differences here and big part of this difference are the things we have already done ere to set up the kind of setting - if you please - to drop the jewel into. Well, the jewel did not fall but the setting is here onetheless. I think that the attitude of this community - for ex- ample, the kind of community spirit that came about with the departure f Studebakers, which was a major blow - things of far less importance in many other communities have killed the community. This didn't ill South Bend. The kind of community support that rallied in this instance, as far as the Sears decision was concerned, was indicative thought of the kind of community we have and can have. South Bend COMMI.$SIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 13 ..... ............................... ... Frid y, November 19, 1976 8. (Open discussion, continued.... if the people really believe it - can accomplish about anything t wants to. This will require a lot of community support. The eople who want to see the downtown as a major retailing center hat it was - perhaps in their youth - are 'whistling Dixie' because here aren't any towns the size of South Bend where it is working his way." e Chair: "Dan, in regard to a positive note to bring people down - wn, one estimate I have seen on the remodelling of the Federal ilding, is that this will put another 250 to 300 people downtown. Nr. Lindstaedt: "One year from now we will be opening the Century Centerand I am wondering what the thinking is on small business in the area — with our convention center, as far as small stores, entertainment etc. are concerned. I have talked to some people who have said ...'well, it's in the evening, we would like to see this but we can't take the bus, we have no transportation, the crime situation, and I can agree with Dan, what he said about the crime situation, these are some of things that are holding up progress, between now and the opening of the Center, a lot of thought has to be given to transportation, police protection and the accomo- dations for these people ". Dan Caesar: John (Lindstaedt), I am not making an analytical comment, I am asking questions in order to solicit comment - I am not making suggestions as to whether they should tear up the streets... ". Mr. Evans: "But these questions are coming out of your own personal attitudes.. ". Mr. Lindstaedt: "I think South Bend is one of the most viable com- munities in the Middle West as far as transportation center is concerned and a retailing center - if you look at a map and try to understand what is going on in Chicago, Gary and Hammond, the de- terioration that is going on there - I think we have everything in the world to be proud of. At least South Bend is showing some progress - the only thing is the negative attitude, not only of the public but of some of the officials." Mr. Wiggins: "As long as merchants are serious about their role to serve the people, as long as we have people we will have merchants ". Mr. Caesar: "Many of the merchants off camera have strong comments, negative comments about the downtown, they will not say it on camera, on camera everything is fine, yes, we believe, but the bottom line is..they firmly believe down in their hearts that, 'hey, things are really bad, nothing is being done, where is the leadership ?" COMMISSIONERS' REGULAR MEETING Page 14 Frid v, November 19, 1976 8. Open discussion, continued.... . Derbeck: "Like who ?" . Brownell asked Mr. Caesar what "they" would like done. r. Caesar: "I don't know what they want done..business men like r. Robinson: "I think these business men have a certain amount of bias n their attitudes for the simple reason that they want the community o furnish everything for them in the operation of their business nd there is no way. It gets back to this business of the 'free unch' - and there isn't any. That business with Sears, I don't hink we had a prayer to begin with, even if we had had Mayor aley here—because they are involved in forty -nine other shopping enters with DeBartolo. Now we can all add two and two, we don't have ny facts or fiction to prove or disprove the darned thing. So what - ver we had done to get Sears to come down here, I think that parking hing was just a crutch." e Chair: "The Chair thanks the public and the press for the positive mments today and the spirit of optimism." 9. NEXT MEETING he next regularly scheduled meeting of the Redevelopment Commission NEXT ill be Friday, December 3, 1976, at 10:00 A.M., E.S.T., in the offices COMMISSIOf f the Department of Redevelopment. MEETING 12 -3 -76 10. ADJOURNMENT ere being no further business before the Commission, motion was ADJOURN - ie for adjournment, at 11:15 a.m., by Mr. Wiggins, seconded by MENT . Robinson and carried. , txecutive uirec (SEAL) F. Jay Nimt , Pre 0 dent