HomeMy WebLinkAboutRedevelopment Commission Minutes 02.08.24South Bend
Redevelopment Commission
227 West Jefferson Boulevard, Room 1308, South Bend, IN
SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING
February 8, 2024 — 9:30 am
https://tinyuri.com/RedevelopmentCommission or Council Chambers, 4th Floor
Presiding: Marcia Jones, President
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Legal Counsel: j
Redevelopment
Staff:
Others Present:
Marcia Jones, President — IP
Troy Warner, Vice -President - IP
Vivian Sallie, Secretary — IP
Eli Wax, Commissioner - IP
David Relos, Commissioner — IP
Leslie Wesley, Commissioner - IP
Sandra Kennedy, Esq.
Danielle Campbell, Asst. City Attorney
Mary Sears, Board Secretary
Joseph Molnar, Property Manager
IP = In Person
V = Virtual
Caleb Bauer
DCI
Erik Glavich
DCI
Sarah Schaefer
DCI
Zach Hurst
Engineering
Allie Dolz-Lane
Mayor's Office
Allison Zeithhammer
Mayor's Office
Angela Rose
DCI
Barb Carmichael
Resident
Bianca Tirado
Clerk's Office
Cam Stillson
Resident
Charlotte Brach
Engineering
Leslie Biek
Engineering
Gemma Stanton
Engineering
Hillary Horvath
Engineering
Nicole Lipschultz
Resident
Jeff Young
DCI
Jennifer Prawat
Resident
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Others Present:
Kaine Kanczewski
Karen Nye
KM
Laura Hensley
CDD
Madeline Hostetler
Magdalena
Marek Mazurek
Colleen
Debby
Marissa Frattini
Marty Kennedy
Mike Divita
Pam Wycliff
Robbie Karen Co.
Rachel Tomas Morgan
Steve F
Steve S.
Hunter Stevens
Tim Corcoran
Tracy
Yesenia Garcilazo
Brandon Waggy
Claval Hunter
Zach Hurst
Sarah Foster
Matt Barrett
Carol Schimmoeller
Carl Hetler
Edward Jurkovic
JBH
Jason Isch
Kathy Schuth
Nicole Maclou
Mark Peterson
WSBT
WNDU
ABC57
Rebekah Go
Sarah Foster
Reed Anderstrom
Dennis Zmyslo
Randall Crobot
Don Foster
Brendan Crumlish
Kathleen Anastos
Ed Conlin
Joe Thomas
Daniel Armounfelder
Jordan Boileau (he/him)
Derek Dieter
Resident
Resident
Resident
Engineering
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Legal Dept.
DCI
DCI
Resident
Resident
Common Council
Resident
Resident
Resident
DCI
Resident
Mayor's Office
Resident
Resident
Engineering
1138 College Street
Resident
Resident
DCI
Resident
Resident
Resident
NNN
Resident
WNDU
WSBT
WNDU
ABC57
921 Cottage Grove
3210 Sugar Maple
3001 W Cleveland Road
3201 Sugar Maple Court
24554 Rolling Oak Drive
132 Chapin Street
1091 Riverside
51680 Orange Road
1122 Quigley Place
24538 Rolling Oaks
937 S 25' Street
237 N Michigan Street
Countv Council
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Barbara Jung
Richard Story
Pam Wycliff
Kate Bolze
Karen Rabbi
Jennifer Huddleston
JBH
Nicole MacLauglin, I support New Day Ctr
Thomas Meisel
Elizabeth Curzan
Travis K
Nicole Lipschultz
Amy Drake
Logan Foster
Sue Eckman
Robert Krushinsky
Jane Casper
Casey Mulaney
Dahlia Wortha
Charity Stowe
Becky Zarnacki
Kim Gray
Emily McClements
Heather Zoeller
Trisha Jo Kusco
Matt Graybill — I support
2. Approval of Minutes
3224 W Maple Ct. #513
553 River Avenue
Resident
DCI
Resident
Neighborhoods
Resident
Resident
51042 Prairie View Way
Resident NW
Resident
410 Marquette Street
County Council
1138 College Street
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
Resident
A. Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Thursday, January 11, 2024
Upon a motion by Commissioner Relos, seconded by Commissioner Wax, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved the minutes of the regular
meeting of Thursday, January 11, 2024.
B. Approval of Minutes of the Executive Commission Session, January 25, 2024
Upon a motion by Commissioner Relos, seconded by Commissioner Wax, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved the minutes of the
Executive Commission Session, January 25, 2024.
3. Approval of Claims
A. Claims Allowance January 30, 2024
Upon a motion by Secretary Sallie, seconded by Commissioner Relos, the motion
carried unanimously, the Commission approved the claims allowances of January
30, 2024.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
4. Old Business
1. Real Estate Purchase Agreement (South Bend School Corporation)
Caleb Bauer, Executive Director Community Investment, Presented items 4A and
4B to the commission. These are related items that we had discussed at the last
meeting which is a purchase agreement for a proposed site on Bendix Drive north
of the current South Bend Community School Corporation bus depot.
The land that we are discussing today is the grass lot and smaller parking lot you
can see on the exhibit. An exhibit of the subdivision breakdown was shown. It is
a 5.17 -acre site, and you can see it on the north side. The details of that
purchase agreement are a purchase price of $277,750 for 5.17 acres. That is the
average of two appraisals. There is a 90 -day due diligence period and closing
period. At closing, the school corporation and RDC would execute a license
which would allow continued use of the parking area by South Bend Community
School Corporation until construction.
The purchase agreement would commit to a 25 -foot buffer to the south and an
eight -foot fence along the southern boundary. City staff would support a variance
for that to be a ten -foot fence. The approval today before you is for the
Redevelopment Commission purchase of the site for redevelopment. It does not
set its use.
Mr. Bauer listed the approvals that would be required for the potential use
proposed at the site which is the New Day Intake Center. There would be other
bodies that would need to weigh in on that. This would return to the
Redevelopment Commission before any center were constructed. The site would
need to pursue a rezoning, which would go to the Plan Commission and the
Common Council and appropriate funding for the site would have to be raised by
the non-profit before they could move forward at the site. The Redevelopment
Commission would have to approve a purchase agreement that actually sells the
site to the New Day Intake Center non-profit. We do not anticipate this coming
before you in the next couple of meetings. This will take time and I want to make
clear that this is the first step in what would be a multi -step process.
Any Redevelopment Commission sale would include commitments from non-
profit, much like you routinely see in sales to private developers or other buyers.
We would have commitments to private investment, commitments on construction
timelines and we would expect to add additional commitments related to
operations at the site. We have received a lot of great feedback from residents,
and we would plan to continue that feedback with individual stakeholder meetings,
neighborhood association meetings and continued public meetings to hear that
feedback and work through how best the operations of the site and the design of
the site can be structured to alleviate those concerns.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
If an alternative site were to become viable, and vetted, ready to move forward
with a willing seller, staff would seek to redevelop this site as it is an industrial use
which is currently zoned for that use. If we had a better site, we would be happy
to move forward with that site and this site could be redeveloped. It has been
vacant for forty years and we feel it is a good redevelopment parcel.
Conversations are ongoing in exploration of other sites. I am sure you will hear
from folks with St. Joseph County; they have formed a task force to explore some
sites. One was proposed yesterday. We are happy to look at all sites and
continue to think creatively about where this can best fit.
Today is step one in the approval process in which the Redevelopment
Commission approves the purchase of the site which does not set the use.
Additional approvals would be required for the use to change from Industrial.
There would be a first reading from Common Council of rezoning and that would
come after the closing of the site; we do not anticipate that happening before April
2024. Then it would be referred to the Plan Commission which would review the
rezoning and make a recommendation to the Common Council for the Council
members or former Council members on the Commission. Then Common
Council would have their second and third readings of the rezoning and final
action. If that rezoning were approved, then would we be able to move forward
with the New Day capital campaigns. Completion commitments from the non-
profit related to the site and then we would seek to sell the property to the non-
profit via Redevelopment Commission actions.
Today we are considering a Redevelopment Commission purchase of the site for
redevelopment. We have chosen to be open about the potential intended use
because we know that there is significant public interest in that potential intended
use. Today is not a decision on that potential intended use and that would be left
to the Common Council first.
The New Day Intake Center would need to be located within the city limits of
South Bend. The city is the only government partner committing funding at this
point, though we would welcome other funding commitments from other
governmental partners, it would need to be located on a parcel greater than three
acres. It would need to be located within a quarter mile of a bus stop or bus line.
We would suggest that Transpo add a new stop if there was not a stop. The
parcel would need to be vacant and undeveloped. It cannot be a wetland or
brownfields site. It would need to be purchased.
We have looked at the Portage Manor site which is currently off the table. There
is a county owned site on old Cleveland Road that is approximately six acres that
could be viable. We had been in discussion with South Bend International Airport
for a site north of the airport, but they were not interested in selling that parcel.
We are willing to explore other sites with those criteria. We know that there is a
lot of public comments to hear.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Commissioner Relos stated to be clear, today is the purchase agreement of the
possible acquisition of five acres that could be developed for any number of uses
at the fair market value? We are here to judge this acquisition on it's merits and
not the merits of anything else.
Mr. Bauer stated yes.
Commissioner Wax asked if we have an estimate, or will there be a future
redevelopment contribution should this go through as part of a development
agreement?
Mr. Bauer stated potentially yes. There is not an estimate of what that estimate
would look like. There have been capital commitments for this project made from
the state of Indiana's Department of Mental Health. The city's intent would be to
explore a capital contribution as well, but whether or not it would come from
Redevelopment funds or other funding sources is something we need to work
through as we explore budgetary constraints of the city.
Commissioner Wax asked if the city has a spectrum of what that may look like.
Obviously, you cannot make a firm prediction.
Mr. Bauer stated for operational commitments, we have looked at $500k annually
to the site. We believe the operational piece is sometimes more challenging to
find contributors for. As they get further into design, we would have a more
realistic number, not to say that $12M to $14M is not realistic, but we have seen
construction pricing over the last few years, and it can escalate but there are also
design decisions that could reduce cost.
Secretary Sallie asked if another viable project would come to the city after the
purchase of this land, this parcel would be considered for that project.
Mr. Bauer stated absolutely. If we found another site for the New Day Intake
Center, we would seek to redevelop this site at its current zoned use of Industrial.
Vice -President Warner asked how much money the New Day Intake Center has
raised as the capital for their campaign.
Mr. Bauer stated he believes they are halfway there -
Vice -President Warner asked if final action would wait until that campaign is
complete.
Mr. Bauer stated yes, we would not bring action before the Commission before
the resources are in place for this project.
Commissioner Wax noted that this is premature but conversation of a phase two
were brought up.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Mr. Bauer stated that there was a conversation about permanent supportive
housing to be paired with an intake center site. This site does have the area to
contain an intake center but at this time we do not believe it would be able to have
significant paired permanent supportive housing. We have had two developments
completed in recent years and we are working on two more, one of them being a
scattered site PSH development. That would see single family homes throughout
the city and another which is integrated permanent supportive housing at the
South Bend Thrive facility on the east side of South Bend. That would just be a
handful of units in an otherwise low-income qualified development.
President Jones opened the floor to public comment in opposition of the project.
1. Derek Dieter, 1740 Portage Ave, County Commissioner — spoke in opposition
2. Don Foster, 132 Chapin Street — spoke in opposition
3. Reed Anderstrom, Church at Cleveland, and Bendix - spoke in opposition
4. Ed Conlin, 1122 Quigley Place — spoke in opposition
5. Amy Drake, County Commissioner — spoke in opposition
6. Joe Thomas, County Council, 24538 Rolling Oaks — spoke in opposition
7. Sarah Foster, 3210 Sugar Maple Court — spoke in opposition
8. Logan Foster, 1138 College Street — spoke in opposition
9. Randy Crobat, resident — spoke in opposition
10. Brendan Crumlish — 1091 Riverside (Sugar Maple Ct.) — spoke in opposition
11. Thomas Zmyslo, 51042 Prairie View Way — spoke in opposition
12. Sue Eckman, Far West Side SB — spoke in opposition
13. Elizabeth Curzan, NW side SB — spoke in opposition
14. Dennis Mizelow, Tom's Car Care Center — spoke in opposition
15. Robert Krushinsky, 7th Floor Cty-City Bldg — spoke in opposition
President Jones closed the floor to public comment in opposition of the project.
President Jones opened the floor to public comment in favor of the project.
1. Rebekah Go, 921 Cottage Grove — spoke in favor
2. Barbara Jung, 3224 W Maple Lane Court — spoke in favor
3. Dr. Daniel Armounfelder, Memorial Hospital — spoke in favor
4. Richard Strory, 553 River Avenue — spoke in favor
5. Jane Casper, 1314 Wallback Drive — spoke in favor
6. Casey Mulaney, 518 S. St. Joseph — spoke in favor
7. Dahlia Wortha, 991 E Wayne Street — spoke in favor
8. Charity Stowe, 614 S. St. Joseph — spoke in favor
9. Becky Zarnacki, Arch Avenue — spoke in favor
10. Kim Gray, Southside Twyckenham — spoke in favor
11. Emily McClements, Wayne Street Sunnymede - spoke in favor
12. Heather Zoeller, South Bend resident — spoke in favor
13. Trisha Joe Kusco, NNW — spoke in favor
14. Edward Jerkovic, Our Lady of the Road Board — spoke in favor
15. Nicole Lipschultz, 410 Marquette St — spoke in favor
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
President Jones closed the floor to public comment in favor of the project.
Danielle Campbell -Weiss, City Attorney noted that we would ask for a correction
on a small scrivener's error in the recital's subsections D&E The Indiana Code
should read 36-1-11-8 not 36-1-11-3. This portion speaks to the ability of
governmental entities to transfer property using matching resolutions and then the
resolution that follows on the agenda is the resolution that is referred to.
Commissioner Relos noted his original comment that the Commission is voting on
an acquisition, and we do not know what will go into this property any time soon.
It is not uncommon for the Redevelopment Commission to buy property and not
know what will eventually go there. The county bought property at enterprise
zone in hopes that it would be redeveloped and has had success out there.
Going into the purchase, they did not know what would eventually be put there.
To me this is a property acquisition.
Commissioner Wax stated that it has been a long couple of weeks since the initial
receipt of item two weeks ago. Over that time, he has had the opportunity to sit
through eight hours of public meetings and another several hours of private
meetings with many people, in every position imaginable on this issue. It is
important to consider this. It is important to stress that there's multiple separate
questions that do not necessarily overlap or relate to each other. There is one
question to whether or not this approach is a positive and effective approach and
helping people that need help. I continue to have questions that I want to learn
more about. There is a separate independent question as to what impact this
would have on the surrounding community. It has nothing to do with whether or
not this approach is effective. It has nothing to do with whether or not this is the
best way to help people in need. It is a separate question as to what impact
putting this center in that neighborhood would cause. This is why two weeks ago
proposed that we table the item to hear more and have the opportunity to see
what designs and plans would be in place to ensure that this would not have a
negative impact in the neighborhood.
There are legitimate concerns, but part of that is alleviated through required
planning around engaging with the neighborhood and surrounding constituents to
make sure if this is going to go forward that it is designed in a way to eliminate the
full success possible with minimized potential negative effects. In several hours of
the meetings, it has not come up. Whether it is or not a good program has come
up.
He appreciated the board and executives of the New Day Center who say that
they look forward to engaging with the neighbors, but that has not happened yet in
my years of experience in public projects, you see that often. Projects have a
domino effect. Once the process gets started the process goes on one step after
the other. Until those questions are addressed of how to put this in a
neighborhood and design it so it has minimized risks, I do not see the project
moving forward. There has to be an understanding or belief that this is the right
project, and this is the direction you want to go before you start at step one. That
is where I stand today. Those questions have not been answered and I really do
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
not see the rush. Caleb mentioned that before zoning could be approved by the
Plan Commission and brought back to Common Council there will be significant
public engagement to discuss the design and how it would impact surrounding
neighborhoods. That is going to happen before the next step. I do not know why
that cannot happen before this step. The public engagement meetings were not
to discuss how to make sure we could do something that maximized everyone's
interests. I would prefer to postpone the items to figure this out. I think it could be
designed to really address some of those concerns. The role of the
Redevelopment Commission has a singular purpose to improve the city or
portions of the city with economic development. It is not supposed to be a project
with the goal of helping people in all the ways that city government can and there
are other divisions for that. Redevelopment Commission is to use funds to
improve the economic area. It could be that this project could happen in this
neighborhood, but we have not seen it today and I look forward to those
conversations. If I had to decide today, I would vote no because I am not there
yet.
President Jones read a portion of a letter from the Mayor to the Redevelopment
Commission which states Resolution No. 3589 is a simple purchase agreement
for approximately five acres of undeveloped property. To be clear, any action
taken today would not be an approval of the New Day Center at this location. For
that to happen, many public approvals would be necessary, including an official
action by the Redevelopment Commission at a later date.
What we are doing here today is not a final step, it is not carte blanche of
anything, simply the first step in a long process to make something happen.
Secretary Sallie noted that this issue is one of the most important that has come
before us in a long time. That caused us all to think. We sat in those meetings
this week and listened to all of the comments and one minute you are on one side
the next minute on the other. There was an equal number of people there that
were either for or against. This makes it very difficult to know what is best for the
city because that is what our role is but also for the community. I looked up the
role of this Commission and the role is responsible for stimulating development in
designated areas of the city's achieved through acquisition, clearance, and
disposition of land. If we live up to what we have been appointed to do, it is one
thing, but then there is the personal side where you're either concerned about the
people that are out there on the street and it should not be one or the other
because the business in that area suffered in that area. I was shocked as
anybody when McDonald's closed. She could not believe that. I talked with
McDonald's representatives and learned why. So, this is difficult to address. The
mayor is asking us to purchase the land and not anything else.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Vice -President Warner thanked the community that we have heard from over the
last two weeks. He noted that there has been a bit of talking past each other and
to have any success at any site, there needs to be direct engagement and not to
talk past each other. He thanked the Commission and noted that everyone on the
Commission is an unpaid volunteer and takes this matter and every matter that is
voted on very seriously. He believes that taking the first step makes sense. It
keeps the discussion moving forward. He has seen in the past if the first step is
not taken that things get pushed aside and the discussion goes away. Then we
would be looking for a site four or five years as in this intake center. This is not a
final approval. There needs to be a whole lot more discussion, engagement, and
input, planning workshops.
In 2020 there was a site for the homeless announced on the east side. We heard
many of these same fears. He stood in front of a crowd of thirty people screaming
that the site was going to ruin their lives and destroy their neighborhood and
property values. It has been two years since they opened their doors and almost
none of those things have developed. What the center did was to take in the
concerns with a plan and engagement to address those concerns. They learned
from other sites and prevented those problems.
These are concerns that must be addressed. As for the task force, in reality this
is two years away from opening their doors. There is only 50% of the funding
raised and they have been raising the funds for a couple years. There is plenty of
time yet for the county task force to get together and for other sites to be
considered. With all of these discussions, I am skeptical that there will be any site
where you do not get a large amount of opposition every time there is a
discussion about homeless. Tempers flare, fears flare and feelings get stoked. I
think finding any site where you are not going to have opposition is not a realistic
thought.
Upon a motion by Vice -President Warner, seconded by Secretary Sallie, the
motion carried with four Yes (Ms. Jones, Mr. Warner, Ms. Sallie, and Mr. Relos),
and one No (Mr. Wax) the Commission approved as amended by our city attorney
Real Estate Purchase Agreement (South Bend School Corporation on February 8,
2024.
2. Resolution No. 3589 (South Bend School Corporation)
Upon a motion by Vice -President Warner, seconded by Secretary Sallie, the
motion carried with four Yes (Ms. Jones, Mr. Warner, Ms. Sallie, and Mr. Relos),
and one No (Mr. Wax) the Commission approved Resolution No. 3589 on
February 8, 2024.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
5. New Business
A. River West Development Area
1. Budget Request (SBMF Demolition)
Zach Hurst Presented a Budget Request (SBMF Demolition). This budget
request for $330k out of the River West TIF would cover engineering design and
bid package preparations for demolition of the existing South Bend Medical
Foundation, located on the memorial campus and then a new parking lot to
replace the entirety of this parcel. This is a time sensitive critical path element for
the overall Beacon District project. This request will allow a design team to
finalize bid packages for the demolition of the building and replacement of a new
parking lot and the critical element here is to get this done before the end of 2024
to keep the hospital project on track.
Mr. Bauer noted that we do not have the development agreement today. We
have been in negotiations with Beacon Health system and Great Lakes Capital for
more than a calendar year on this project. Those negotiations have been very
constructive. We are close to bringing an agreement before you for your
consideration. We are asking you to consider this in advance. The goal of the
discussions is to facilitate parking for Beacon Health system employees at
Memorial Hospital that is currently occupying the development site, which are two
blocks south of Memorial Hospital.
We hope to move forward with design so we are in position to be completed in
this construction season and the redevelopment project can move forward quickly
at the beginning of next construction season. If you are to approve this today, the
bond issuance that you previously authorized for the series B2023 tax increment
finance funded bonds, would reimburse this cost. The bond proceeds would
reimburse the cost from the River West TIF. We do hope and plan to bring all of
the agreements before you in the near future. This has been a huge undertaking
with all of DCI and engineering participating. Commission approval is requested.
Commissioner Relos asked when this item is anticipated to come to Commission.
Mr. Bauer states that agreement with Beacon Health System and Great Lakes
Capital and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation for the Ready 2.0
Fund. These would encompass the district redevelopment for the parking.
Parking lots on MLK north of the NIPSCO building.
Vice -President Warner asked so this is for design and put together the bid
package which would be approximately ten weeks until bid.
Mr. Hurst noted that he is estimating the March 2nd meeting of BPW to request to
advertise to start the bid process.
Vice -President Warner asked about location of the project. The roundabout down
to Burger King?
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Mr. Bauer stated the project is north of $240M at this point and would support
Beacon Memorial hospital's tower expansion project which is more that a$400M
project. This would support it by providing parking needs. The engineering
partner is American Structure Point.
Commissioner Wax confirmed getting early notice on the future issues, to keep
consistent with wanting to understand steps of the projects. This little portion is
new, but it is part of something we have been engaging for over a year. He does
ask that staff relay details on a project that they share with the Commission as
much as they can prior to the meeting. He believes it is extremely important. He
is excited about the potential of the project.
Mr. Bauer states his intent is to have the agreements in advance for review before
the meeting. He is happy to send summaries to the Commission centered around
the proposed commitments. He can even send draft agreements as well.
Commissioner Wax stated some renderings to make informed decisions -
Vice -President Warner stated that there are a lot of parts to this one and we have
been engaging with this and there is a bond that has been approved and went
through Common Council. Common Council would also like to be kept abreast of
progress. It is very exciting and transformative for the whole north end. The
purchase of the Tribune building by Notre Dame.
Secretary Sallie asked is a representative from Beacon going to come join for the
presentation?
Mr. Bauer stated that President Larry Tracy from Memorial Hospital should be
here.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Relos, seconded by Vice -President Warner, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved a Budget Request (SBMF
Demolition) submitted on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
2. Fifth Amendment to Real Estate Purchase Agreement (Diamond View)
Joseph Molnar Presented a Fifth Amendment to Real Estate Purchase
Agreement (Diamond View). This amendment is for the RealAmerica project at
Main and Lafayette. This agreement dates back to 2021 where the property is
sold to develop affordable and market rate apartments. RealAmerica received
low-income tax credits in January 2023. This project has been pushed back due
to the tax credit date. RealAmerica took the six parcels and made them into two
clean parcels. One for the RealAmerica project and one for the LIHTC project.
RealAmerica is looking to break ground by March 2024. They have had some
environmental issues and once they receive their comfort letter from Indiana
Department of Environmental Management they will move forward. Closing may
be separate on the project due to the environmental report. An exhibit of the
subdivision and projects was shown to the Commission. Commission approval is
requested.
South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting — February 8, 2024
Commissioner Wax asked what is the closing date?
Mr. Molnar stated it is the end of February, so we are not in violation, but we want
to have some room.
Commissioner Relos stated they are getting rid of the bad dirt.
Mr. Molnar stated yes, there was a low level of lead so they will remediate that
section.
Upon a motion by Commissioner Relos, seconded by Vice -President Warner, the
motion carried unanimously, the Commission approved Fifth Amendment to Real
Estate Purchase Agreement (Diamond View) submitted on Thursday, February 8,
2024.
6. Progress Reports
A. Tax Abatement
• None
B. Common Council
• None
C. Other
Mr. Bauer stated that conversations with Bear Brew are ongoing and hopefully
we will have an agreement with you shortly. We did a walk through and on the
Fourth Amendment we need to look at what items are valid and eligible for
reimbursement to them.
7. Next Commission Meeting:
Thursday, February 22, 2024
8. Adjournment
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 11:45 a.m.
Vivian G Sallie, Secretary
Marcia I Jones, Presid t