HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-11-97 Community & Economic Development G°orrunit.te Re/ewe..
Community and Economic Development Committee
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The August 11, 1997 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee
was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member John Broden at 5:00 p.m. in the
Council informal meeting room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members: Aranowski, Pfeifer, Kelly, Broden,
Varner,Ujdak, Coleman,Hosinski, Sniadecki; Lee Cotton,citizen member Sue Hodgson,
Mike Beitzinger,Ricardo Milton,Larry Magolizzi,Dea Andrews, and Kathleen Cekanski-
Farrand.
Council Member Broden noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Bill No. 97- .
68 which is a five year real property residential tax abatement request for American Home
Dreams for properties located at 125-301 East Broadway St.
Mr. Mike Beitzinger, Economic Development Specialist, reviewed the August 1, 1997
Community and Economic Development report(Copy Attached). The report noted that the
petitioner proposes to develop new single family residences in the Southeast neighborhood.
Each home is estimated to cost approximately $74,500 with 16 homes being built. The
project qualifies for a five year real property tax abatement under applicable state and local
laws.
Mr. Ricardo Milton then made a further presentation and showed pictures of the area in
question.
Following favorable comments, Council Member Coleman made a motion seconded by
citizen member Sue Hodgson that Bill No. 97-68 be recommended favorably to Council.
The motion passed.
Council Member Coleman noted that in light of the unfairness of the current assessment
system that residential tax abatement is the only tool available to provide assistance in this
area.
Council Member Aranowski urged Mr. Milton to have an ongoing education program in
place with regard to the filing of necessary tax abatement forms which Mr. Milton stated he
would do.
The committee then reviewed Bill No. 97-69 which is a five year real property residential
tax abatement request for South Bend Heritage Foundation for the benefit of Garden
Homes,Inc. for properties located at 936 and 938 West LaSalle Ave.
Mr. Mike Beitzinger, Economic Development Specialist, reviewed the August 1, 1997
report (Copy Attached). The report noted that the petitioner plans to build two new single
family residences for an approximate value of $75,000 each. The project would be a
compliment to the South Bend Heritage Foundation LaSalle Ave. project. The project
qualifies for a five year real property tax abatement under applicable state and local laws.
Community and Economic Development Committee
August 11, 1997
Page 2
Dea Andrews of South Bend Heritage provided before and after pictures of the homes
which have been renovated in the area and then showed an artist or architectural rendering
of the two homes being proposed.
Following discussion,Council Member Pfeifer made a motion seconded by citizen member
Sue Hodgson that Bill No. 97-69 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion
passed.
Council Member Pfeifer urged fellow Council Members to walk the area in order to better
appreciate the neighborhood. Dea Andrews also noted that "turf funding" enables cash to
be made readily available for organizations to buy problem homes.
Under miscellaneous business,Mr.Larry Magolizzi reviewed a summary of the recent state
law which was enacted effective July 1, 1997 addressing residential tax abatement (Copy
Attached). He noted that both the Council Attorney and Ann Bruneel of the City Attorney's
Office are reviewing the state law in greater detail and will have further details in the near
future. He noted that there is a lot of interest in the area of residential tax abatement. He
noted that Emerson Forest is the only new subdivision where residential tax abatement has
been addressed. The Council Attorney noted that lot signs in older areas of the city may be
further discussed in light of the replanning that is currently going on for properties that are
not 40 feet in width.
Council Member Hosinski noted that concerns raised in the past by Gene Oakley should
also be addressed. Council Member Varner noted that improvements to existing residential
properties has been an ongoing and continuing abatement issue.
Under miscellaneous business, Mr. Lee Cotton reviewed Bill No. 97-70 which is a one
year renewable lease at $350 per month for the property located at 504 North Johnson.
Council Member Pfeifer noted that the property is very effectively being used as a
capitalized neighborhood partnership center for three neighborhood groups.
Following further discussion,the meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John Broden, Chairperson
Community and Economic Development Committee
Attachments