HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-28-09 Agency sees economic impact from historic preservation
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, May 28, 2009
11:00 am
Agency sees economic impact from historic preservation
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Jeff Gibney, executive director of Community and Economic Development, 235-9371
A national competition has recognized efforts by the South Bend Redevelopment
Commission and the City’s Department of Community and Economic Development to
spur on economic development through the historic preservation of landmark facilities.
These two City of South Bend entities have been named as a finalist in the U.S.
Economic Development Administration’s 2009 Excellence in Economic Development
Awards in the category, Excellence in Historic Preservation-led Economic Development.
The EDA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The City’s nomination detailed efforts to expand economic spending, create jobs and
foster additional investment in redevelopment dating back to the restorations of the
Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Royale Ballroom. It also highlighted new
efforts, such as the combination of restoration and new construction at American Trust
Place, 101 N. Michigan St., and the adaptive reuse of the former Engman Natatorium as
the new Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center.
“For more than three decades, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission and the
Department of Community and Economic Development have served as a visionary
catalyst and funding agent for historic preservation that seeks to boost South Bend’s
economy,” the application said. “Working in tandem and drawing in hosts of partners,
public and private, these two public bodies have worked behind the scenes at targeted
redevelopment efforts for the city, especially drawing from communitywide expertise in
historic preservation and restoration.”
For the Morris Performing Arts Center and the Palais Royale alone, a 2007 economic
impact study showed that those two facilities would generate nearly $5.9 million
indirectly that year to downtown South Bend restaurants, hotels and businesses. “The
initial community investment in preservation has created a powerful engine to drive
downtown economic development in South Bend,” wrote Dennis J. Andres, executive
director of the Morris and Palais Royale.
Twenty-five finalists were selected in six categories. South Bend is among three finalists
in its category, which also includes the City of Dubuque, Iowa, and the Georgia
Department of Economic Development in Atlanta. Winners are expected to be announced
later this spring.
The City of South Bend was a finalist in the same awards competition in 2008 in the
category of Excellence in Technology-led Economic Development for its work with the
St. Joe Valley Metronet.
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