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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRedevelopment Commission Minutes 02.26.26 - Signed South Bend Redevelopment Commission 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 301, South Bend, Indiana Minutes Regular Meeting February 26, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. City Hall Council Chambers 3rd Floor or via: https://tinyurl.com/RDC2025-2026-Meetings Meeting Recording Link: https://tinyurl.com/RDC-Meeting-Recordings The South Bend Redevelopment Commission was called to order at 9:30 a.m. President Troy Warner presiding. 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Troy Warner, President Dave Relos, Vice President Eli Wax, Secretary Gillian Shaw, Commissioner Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers, Commissioner Marcus Ellison, Non-Voting Advisor Legal Counsel: Jenna Throw, City Attorney Redevelopment Staff: Darryl Scott, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office Erik Glavich, Director of Growth and Opportunity, DCI Lewis Kouassi, Director of Finance, DCI Joseph Molnar, Asst. Dir. of Growth and Opp., DCI Erin Michaels, Property Development Mngr., DCI-Virtual Tim Corcoran, Chief Planner, DCI Michael Divita, Principal Planner, DCI Chris Dressel, Senior Planner, DCI Leslie Biek, Assist. City Engineer Laura Hensley, Board Secretary, DCI Attending: Murray Miller, 23698 Western Ave. Matt Barrett, 110 S. Niles Ave. Charlotte Brach, Senior City Engineer Eric Horvath, Director of Public Works Patrick Sherman, Director of Project Management Rebecca Plantz, Director of Engineering Services Tina Patton, 707 Sherman Ave. CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 2 Dustin New, Planner MACOG Peter Hru, 25700 Cleveland Rd. 2. Approval of Claims A. Claims Allowances February 17, 2026 Upon a motion by David Relos for approval second by Gillian Shaw, the motion carried unanimously; the Commission approved the claims allowances of February 17, 2026. 3. Old Business A. None 4. New Business A. River East Residential Development Area 1. Budget Request (Colfax Streetscape Improvements) Joseph Molnar, Assistant Director of Growth and Opportunity, stated that before Leslie begins the primary presentation, I wanted to provide a brief update since both budget requests on today’s agenda are tied to the River East Residential Development Area—an area the Commission does not see very often. As a reminder, the River East Residential area is a separate category within the larger River East TIF district. This residential TIF captures incremental growth specifically from residential development. For 2026, there is approximately $16.2 million in available cash. If the Commission approves both budget requests on today’s agenda, the remaining cash balance would be about $8.4 million. That leaves this TIF in a very strong financial position moving forward. Leslie Biek, Assistant City Engineer, began by introducing the Colfax Avenue streetscape project. As noted, this phase of the project focuses solely on streetscape improvements and does not include the bridge work. The project limits are similar to those used for the LaSalle project. The overall project extends from Sycamore Street to Eddy Street, with the primary streetscape improvements occurring from Sycamore Street to just West of Hill Street. From Hill Street to Eddy Street, the roadway will receive a mill and overlay. The purpose of the project is to create a safer, more walkable environment that is more inviting to both commercial and residential development in the area. Streetscape improvements will include new sidewalks, curb bump-outs, driveway approaches, a shared-use path on the south side of the road, and enhanced pedestrian crossings at the East Bank Trail. Additional improvements include storm sewer upgrades, CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 3 landscaping, decorative street lighting, and other standard streetscape amenities. East of Hill Street, the project will consist of a mill and fill. It is important to note that Colfax Avenue will remain a three-lane roadway; there will be no lane reductions or changes to the existing lane configuration. However, the project does add additional on-street parking. More than 20 new on-street parking spaces are expected, which will benefit nearby local businesses. The bids for this project are currently being reviewed, with an award anticipated next month. Construction is expected to begin in early Spring, as soon as the contractor is able to mobilize. The contract includes an open-to-traffic date of September 4, which covers completion of sidewalks and the multi-use path. Final project completion, including landscaping and remaining items, is scheduled for October 30. Vice President Relos asked how the project could accommodate the addition of 20 on-street parking spaces while also addressing congestion related to school drop-off and pick-up. Ms. Biek explained that the design reduces excess pavement while maintaining the existing lane configuration. The project uses curb bump-outs and similar streetscape features to create additional on-street parking. To achieve this, certain turn lanes on Niles Street, including the left-turn lane, will be removed. Regarding Hill Street, where the elementary school is located, we are aware that the drop-off and pick-up lines, especially in the afternoon, can back up significantly, sometimes extending several blocks. That operation will still be able to continue as it does today. We did evaluate the option of installing a cycle track similar to what was done on LaSalle, but instead the project will retain striped bike lanes within the street, consistent with the current configuration. We have met with the school multiple times to discuss different options for drop-off and pick-up. Given their limited site footprint, it is challenging to make significant changes. They are already fairly well organized, so we are continuing to work with them as best we can within those constraints. Commissioner Gooden-Rodgers asked for clarification regarding bump- outs. Ms. Biek explained that the curb bump-outs serve several important purposes. They shorten the distance pedestrians must cross at intersections, help clearly define on-street parking areas, and contribute to traffic calming by slowing vehicle speeds. While these features are often unpopular with drivers, they are effective in improving overall safety and pedestrian comfort. Ms. Gooden-Rodgers CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 4 also requested a reflective color be added and Ms. Biek stated that she would look into that. Secretary Wax asked if right and left turns would be restricted with the addition of the bump-outs. Ms. Biek explained that while certain turning movements would not be completely prohibited, vehicles would be required to remain in the through lane when turning unless they are first in line. As part of the design, the project reduces the ability to make left turns and limits some right turns. While the roadway will remain a single through lane in each direction, these changes may reduce overall lane efficiency. To help offset these impacts, the City is upgrading signal detection by installing GridSmart cameras. These cameras provide improved vehicle detection and can recommend optimized signal timing based on observed traffic volumes. Cameras will be installed at the intersections of Niles St. and Hill St. While the cameras will be capable of communicating with one another once connected via cellular or fiber, that connectivity is not included in this project. However, it is part of a larger plan to modernize downtown traffic signals and create coordinated corridors that can adjust signal timing based on traffic conditions. Secretary Wax expressed support for improvements that enhance pedestrian safety and experience but emphasized the importance of also maintaining efficient vehicle movement. He asked whether the new technology automatically adjusts signal timing or if changes require manual intervention. Ms. Biek responded that the system could recommend preferred signal timing based on real-time traffic data. Ms. Biek further noted that the City has a separate signal modernization project underway, with priority corridors identified and a consultant engaged to assist with improving traffic flow. While final approvals are still pending, staff confirmed that these improvements are actively being pursued. Commissioner Shaw asked for a breakdown of the budget. Ms. Biek indicated that the specific information was not available at the time but could be provided afterward. It was clarified that the request pertains only to construction funding. A follow-up question was then raised regarding the budget. Ms. Shaw asked whether the project was still out to bid and whether bids had been received. Ms. Biek responded that bids were received on Tuesday. She further explained that the requested amount has been adjusted and includes a 10% contingency to cover any potential change orders. If those change orders are not needed, the unused funds would be returned to the appropriate fund. CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 5 Dustin New, Transportation Planner for MACOG, and residents Edward Jurkovic and Peter Hru all spoke in favor of the project. Upon a motion by David Relos for approval, seconded by Gillian Shaw, the motion carried unanimously; the Commission approved the Budget Request as presented on February 26, 2026. 2. Budget Request (Marion Pedestrian Bridge and Trail Connections) Leslie Biek, Assist. City Engineer presented the Marion Pedestrian Bridge and Connecting Trails Project for $3,600,000. The project proposes construction of a new pedestrian bridge over the St. Joseph River at Marion Street. The bridge would connect the east and west sides of the river and link directly into the City’s broader trail network. This location has been identified as a valuable connection point and has appeared in multiple neighborhood and planning studies since 2017. In total, five plans have recommended the bridge as a way to address gaps in the City’s pedestrian and trail infrastructure. The Marion Bridge will be a standalone project located on the south side of Marion Street. It will connect the West Bank to the East Bank Trail. The bridge will consist of two spans with a cylindrical center column placed in the river. The outer railing design will be a steel capstone-style railing, and the handrail and handrail lighting will match what was used on the Coal Line Trail pedestrian bridge. On the west side of the river, a new trail will be constructed along the south side of Marion Street and connected to the existing roundabout. Because Marion St. is currently wider than needed for a residential street, the southern curb line will be shifted to accommodate the trail. A separate project along Madison St. will connect a new linking trail to the East Bank Trail and the bridge. Improvements along the Madison Connector Trail will include ADA curb upgrades, curb bump-outs, and decorative lighting. Regarding schedule, bridge bids were opened earlier this week, and the Madison Trail project is currently out for bid, with bids expected at the March 10 Board of Works meeting. The Marion Trail project will be bid later this spring. Construction of the bridge is anticipated to begin in late summer, pending environmental permit approvals, and is expected to be completed next spring. Construction of the Madison and Marion trails is expected to occur this year, with potential coordination adjustments to the Marion Trail to align with bridge construction. CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 6 Vice President Relos asked if the budget request includes both the Marion and Madison connections and Ms. Biek stated yes with a 10% contingency for change orders. Secretary Wax asked for a review of the original plan and how the project reached its current cost. Ms. Biek explained that $3 million was originally appropriated from the TIF bond based on early estimates that the bridge alone would cost approximately $3 million and did not include trail components. As design progressed, total design costs for all three projects were approximately $690,000 and were paid from the original allocation. Construction costs for all three projects are now estimated at approximately $5.8 million, with the remaining difference reflecting finalized design and bid-ready estimates. Ms. Biek noted that the scope of the project did not significantly change during design; no new elements were added, and cost-effective options were selected to maintain compatibility with the Coal Line Trail. Peter Hru, Edward Jurkovic and Dustin New all spoke in favor of the project. Upon a motion by Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers for approval, seconded by Gillian Shaw, the motion carried unanimously; the Commission approved the Budget Request as presented on February 26, 2026. 5. Progress Reports A. Tax Abatement Joseph Molnar, Assistant Director of Growth and Opportunity, stated that the Common Council approved a confirming Resolution for the new Burton’s Laundry location on the south end of town off Main Street was approved on Monday. Construction is expected to begin within the next few months. B. Common Council None C. Other Joseph Molnar, Assistant Director of Growth and Opportunity and Erik Glavich, Director of Growth and Opportunity, give updates on. • Diamond View – Tenants expected soon • Monroe Street – Construction fencing went up • JC Hart – Demo is done, construction starting soon • Drewery’s – Demo completion in the Spring CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 26, 2026 Page | 7 •Madison Lifestyle District – Big packages moving forward, NIPSCO building demo will begin soon and working on design of storm water and public utilities. 6.Next Commission Meeting Thursday, March 12, 2026, 9:30 a.m., City Hall Council Chambers 3rd Floor 7.Adjournment Thursday, February 26, 2026, 10:11 a.m. ______________________________ Eli Wax, Secretary ______________________________ Troy Warner, President