HomeMy WebLinkAboutRedevelopment Commission Minutes 12.9.21
South Be n d
Redevelopment Commission
227 West Jefferson Boulevard, Room 1308, South Bend, IN
SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
December 9, 2021 – 9:30 am
https://tinyurl.com/RDC12921
Presiding: Marcia Jones, President
The meeting was called to order at 9:32 a.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Marcia Jones, President
Don Inks, Vice-President
Troy Warner, Secretary
Eli Wax, Commissioner
Vivian Sallie, Commissioner
Leslie Wesley, Commissioner
Members Absent:
Legal Counsel: Sandra Kennedy, Esq.
Redevelopment Staff: Mary Brazinsky, Board Secretary
Others Present:
Santiago Garces
Amanda Pietsch
Andrew Netter
Angela Smith
Michael Divita
Leslie Biek
Charlotte Brach
Conrad Damian
Paul Rubenstein
Catherine Osborne
DCI
DCI
DCI
DCI
DCI
Engineering
Engineering
Resident
Resident
Resident
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting – December 9, 2021
2. Approval of Minutes
• Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Monday, November 22, 2021
Upon a motion by Commissioner Sallie, seconded by Secretary Warner, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved the minutes of the
regular meeting of Monday, December 9, 2021.
3. Approval of Claims
• Claims Submitted for November 29 and December 1, 2021
Upon a motion by Secretary Warner, seconded by Commissioner Wax, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved the claims for
November 29 and December 1, 2021, submitted on Thursday, December 9,
2021
4. Old Business
5. New Business
A. River West Development Area
1. Certificate of Completion (738 Leland Avenue)
Mr. Netter Presented a Certificate of Completion (738 Leland Avenue). The
purchase agreement for 738 Leland Avenue was signed with Catherine Osbourne
stating that she would spend no less than $110,000 on building improvements
within 12 months of closing. This agreement closed on January 1, 2021, and
documentation has been submitted stating that the amount and the project is now
completed as promised. Slides were shown of the work to date. Ms. Osborne
states that there is more work to be done on the home which she will continue.
The electrical, bathroom and structural approvements have been made.
Estimated completion is end of 2022.
Commissioner Salle stated that it looks very nice, up-to-date, and modern.
Secretary Warner thanked Ms. Osborne for the investment in our community.
B. River East Development Area
1. Budget Request (LaSalle Colfax Streetscape Design)
Mr. Garces Presented a Budget Request (LaSalle Colfax Streetscape Design).
The funding request is to cover the design and streetscape improvements on the
east and west side of the city. The streetscape project comes to us from the
Northeast Neighborhood Plan that is currently underway. This would add parking
and traffic calming improvements to the area. This is just for the design portion.
Ms. Biek added that she will be managing the project working with JPR. The
design work will be split into two different phases with LaSalle being the 1st phase.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting – December 9, 2021
The request amount is for $426,480. Commission approval is requested.
Secretary Warner asked about the timeline of this project.
Ms. Biek replied to Secretary Warner, the 1st phase will be designed this winter
with the bid portion Spring 2022 for the LaSalle portion. Colfax will be
approximately 1 year later.
Santiago Garces states Colfax initially will have a lower intensity design as the
county has plans to replace the bridge in the future. We will the time and
opportunity to be sure the bridge is consistent with the other bridges in the
neighborhood which are more decorative and pedestrian friendly.
President Jones asked about the tree, planter project happening on Michigan St.
Santiago Garces stated that was at the request of the business owners.
Commissioner Wax asked with the new landscaping, bike lanes and crosswalks,
will it create a slower drive though downtown.
Santiago Garces states that on LaSalle there are safety issues. We don’t
anticipate there being major traffic or congestion.
Ms. Biek replied that through landscaping, trees and curb cuts with raised
intersections and bike lanes the plan is to slow down traffic without causing
congestion.
Secretary Warner asked if street lighting will be updated.
Ms. Biek states yes, this agreement will be presented at the next Board of Public
Works meeting to get the design started.
Secretary Warner noted that he has heard these topics from the Northeast
Neighborhood community input meetings and is glad to hear the concerns are
being addressed.
Upon a motion by Secretary Warner, seconded by Commissioner Sallie, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved Budget Request
(LaSalle Colfax Streetscape Design) submitted on Thursday, December 9,
2021.
C. Other
1. Debt Service Correction Memo
Ms. Pietsch Presented a Debt Service Correction Memo. This request for the debt
service of the library bonds, that were over funded by eleven dollars. We
accessed this amount from Fund 324. Commission approval is requested.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting – December 9, 2021
Upon a motion by Vice-President Inks, seconded by Secretary Warner, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved Debt Service Correction
Memo submitted on Thursday, December 9, 2021.
2. Assignment and Assumption of EIA (Catalyst III)
Ms. Kennedy Presented Assignment and Assumption of EIA (Catalyst III). In 2014
in order to make the lots at Ignition Park more marketable, the city entered into
assignment and assumption remediation agreement. One parcel was with Great
Lakes Capital aka Catalyst III. One parcel was subdivided into three parcels. The
third parcel is where Catalyst III was constructed which is where Press Ganey is
housed. Catalyst III sold the building to a new buyer. The buyer and buyer’s
attorney is 1173 South Bend DST. They closed the transaction on December 2,
2021. As part of the transaction the parties drew up an assignment and
assumption of the property. They are allowed to do this without written consent of
the Redevelopment Commission, however, the Redevelopment Commission has
30days to object to the assignment. This document has been reviewed and if you
have any questions, the buyer is on the call to answer them. Commission
approval is requested.
Secretary Warner asked what portion of the assignment are the not assuming.
Ms. Kennedy states for lots I & II we are still obliged where TRC and ND Turbo are
located. No terms are changing. We have been working to close the site by 2024
and we are working with IDEM for a 2022 date which will close it by 2024.
Upon a motion by Secretary Warner, seconded by Vice-President Inks, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved Assignment and
Assumption of EIA (Catalyst III) submitted on Thursday, December 9, 2021.
6. Progress Reports
A. Tax Abatement
B. Common Council
1. There will be a Community Investment tonight on Tax Abatements.
2. Mr. Garces states that Angelina Billo will be presenting on tax abatements
including the impact and analysis with the economic portion tax abatements
bring to the city. This is at 4:30pm in Council Chambers.
C. Other
1. River Race Townhomes. Mr. Garces states the mayor’s office and others
met with Mr. Matthews. We are enforcing rules to be sure everyone in the
neighborhood benefit from working parcels. There are still some
inconsistencies with requirements.
Ms. Kennedy stated that there are some inconsistencies between the deed
that was recorded and the deed that was signed a difference of one year.
Since there are fact issues, we would need to look into regarding the
agreement, at this time we will not pursing this.
Mr. Garces stated we are pro development here at the city but we
understand there are challenges. We want to be sure the sites are in good
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting – December 9, 2021
condition and the developers are being held accountable to what our
residents expect.
Secretary Warner states we as the city we need to be good stewards of the
tax dollars. The developer got this property for minimal cost and the
development never was completed. We need to be sure they are
accountable.
7.Next Commission Meeting:
Monday, December 20, 2021, 9:30 a.m.
8.Adjournment
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 10:04 a.m.
Troy Warner, Secretary Marcia Jones, President