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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEndorsing the "Spring Forward" Community Beautification Initiative to Help Deter Blight, Vandalism and Theft of Vacant and Abandoned BuildingsAttes RESOLUTION 4318 -14 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana February 10, 14 20 . Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana February 11 14 City Clerk dent of Common Council Approved and signed by me T i B R H 4 9 y )3 20 Lq City Clerk R Before RESOLUTION NO. �4 31 0 — I After A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND ENDORSING THE "SPRING FORWARD" — A COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE TO HELP DETER BLIGHT, VANDALISM AND THEFT OF VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS BY UTILIZING CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC BOARDING Qfi;,wd, the South Bend Common Council notes that many communities across the nation, who are dealing with abandoned and vacant, buildings, have instituted creative programs to help improve these sites so that they would not be such eyesores and "magnets for trouble" while awaiting rehabilitative or demoltion; and Gq the Common Council further notes that a Housing Court Judge in Cleveland, Ohio, began testing such a program in 2010. It required boarded up structures to be secured and have plywood panels which were painted to look like windows or doors which resulted in very few of these structures being subsequently broken into or vandalized. The program was later expanded to utilize non - profit and neighborhood organizations, and students utilizing their artistic talents; and last year, the City of Chicago "Safe Passage Program" received world -wide attention when volunteer artists and neighborhood associations partnered with the city so that the public could see "progress and change" through decoratively painted panels such as those depicted on the "Board -Up Art" map in the attached exhibit. The program incorporates concepts of artist Chris Toepfer, who is the President of NeighborServe, Inc., who began working on artistic board -ups as early as 1995 after he visited more than 3,000 "ghost buildings" in 17 U.S. cities. He artistically boarded up 750 of them which resulted in 90% of those structures being saved from demolition and being restored for reuse; and the Common Council notes that other positive results of similar artistic boarding programs are taking place such as the one in Cincinnati through their "Future Blooms" — a project of "Keep Cincinnati Beautiful focusing on neighborhoods in transition; as well as in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and its "Artistic Board -Up Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative" which began in 2012 and is aimed at reducing the " stigma of blight caused by abandoned buildings "; and 4 the Common Council recognizes that the Neighborhood Resources Corporation has partnered with neighbors, neighborhood associations, and local businesses to prepare to formally launch Spring Forward. A Community Beautification Initiative in early 2014 in South Bend, Indiana; and Spring Forward Artistic Boarding Resolution Page 2 March 8, 2014 has been designated as "Painting Day" where artists, committee members and volunteers will be creatively painting window and door replacements which are carefully sized and measured for identified homes. They will then be installed on "Installation Day" scheduled for March 9, 2014 in structures identified by the city in the 2013 South Bend City Report on Vacant and Abandoned Homes; and 6AK;*74 the Common Council is proud to also recognize that local artist, Chris Stackowicz, will be sharing his many talents in the Spring Forward initiative. Chris has been instrumental in the five -year project of artfully redoing all of the entrance ways into the City of South Bend with giant beautiful murals. The 933 bridge painting which was finished last September and which can be viewed at 933bridge.com involved volunteer mural painters who used the artistic design developed by Chris and features the best of the city's architecture. Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, believes that the proposed Spring Forward. A Community Beautification Initiative will creatively and enthusiastically bring neighbors, volunteers, neighborhoods, local businesses, local artists and other vital resources together to positively make an impact throughout the City of South Bend through artistic boarding. Section II. The South Bend Common Council urges everyone to consider getting involved in this pro- active community project which will touch the lives and souls of our neighborhoods, so that they can once again flourish and grow. The Council believes that the Spring Forward. A Community Beautification Initiative will provide a good temporary mechanism, until the vacant or abandoned building is either demolished or renovated, thereby limiting the current blight that it is causing in the neighborhood and helping to deter crime and vandalism. and This Resolution shall be in _1-by the Mayor. �Omber Tim Sc t, ls` DZe �'Ce it Member Karen L, White, At Large John Voorde, City Clerk PRESENTED NOT APPRO=VE AooPtEi2 l,0 ::riled in Clerk's offic l 2014 JOHN Ifuo,if- i 9 CITY CLERK, SOUTN tcRl], W TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND: Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred: BILL NO. 14 -08 A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ENDORSING THE "SPRING FORWARD" — A COMMUNITY BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVE TO HELP DETER BLIGHT, VANDALISM AND THEFT OF VACANT AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS BY UTILIZATION CREATIVE AND ARTISTIC BOARDING Respectfully report that they have examined the matter and that in their opinion, this bill is being recommended to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. This bill was heard by the Residential Neighborhood Committee. Valerie Schey Chairperson, Committee of the Whole