HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-26-09 Actions scheduled on East Bank, Howard Park plans
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
August 26, 2009
11:30 a.m.
Actions scheduled on East Bank, Howard Park plans
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Don Inks, Director of Economic Development, 235-9371
South Bend’s Redevelopment Commission took implementation steps today related to
development plans for two downtown-area neighborhoods, the East Bank Village and the
Howard Park neighborhood.
The Redevelopment Commission will begin the process of adopting the master plan and
expanding the designated redevelopment area for the Howard Park neighborhood. In
addition, it will consider steps to expand the downtown Tax Increment Financing district
in order to make redevelopment projects in the Howard Park neighborhood eligible for
TIF funding. The designation of the redevelopment area requires the approval of the
Commission, the Common Council and the Area Plan Commission, while the TIF
designation requires approval from those three bodies as well as the state.
The action is similar to the July 2008 adoption of the East Bank Village master plan, a
first phase of study by Chicago-based JJR and facilitators from Holladay Corp. that led to
the Howard Park plan.
Growing out of the East Bank master plan, the Commission also unanimously approved
an agreement to sell the property at 305 E. Colfax Ave., which now houses Fire Arts Inc.,
to the nonprofit gallery for $10. The property could not be sold or transferred to another
organization for 25 years without the Commission’s approval. In exchange, Fire Arts Inc.
would maintain and improve the property. If Fire Arts should cease operations, the
property’s ownership would revert to the Commission.
The East Bank Village master plan proposed that the City foster the development of a
cultural district featuring studios where artists live and work along Colfax and LaSalle
avenues in the vicinity of Sycamore Street, but sprinkled elsewhere throughout the
neighborhood. Fire Arts has leased the facility since 2004. If the nonprofit were to
assume ownership, its board could make long-term plans for development as well as raise
funds privately to improve the facility. According to a proposed contract, Fire Arts would
assume ownership on or before Oct. 1.
“Fire Arts has been a vital part of the East Bank Village’s arts and cultural district. This
action demonstrates the City of South Bend’s support for arts organizations in our
community, which have a substantial impact on jobs, economic growth and quality of life
in our community,” said Jeff Gibney, executive director of the City’s Department of
Community and Economic Development.
According to a 2007 Arts and Economic Prosperity III study by Americans for the Arts,
nonprofit arts and culture generates $30.48 million annually in local economic activity in
St. Joseph County. Consisting of $17.24 million in spending by arts organizations and
another $13.24 million in event-related spending by audiences, this activity supports the
full-time equivalent of 894 jobs in St. Joseph County. The arts in St. Joseph County
generate $16.52 million in household income to local residents and deliver $2.52 million
in revenue to local and state governments.
“Selling the facility to Fire Arts also will help us strengthen the cultural district
envisioned in the East Bank Village master plan,” Gibney said.
Across the river from the central business district, the “East Bank Village” is considered
part of the formal downtown area. It also is situated between the University of Notre
Dame and Indiana University South Bend, and includes features such as Howard Park,
the East Race Waterway and several major health-care institutions.
“The East Race area of South Bend has the potential to become a strong, vibrant, urban
neighborhood with an exciting mix of live-play uses that will be attractive to recent
college graduates, young couples, retirees and the technology and arts communities,”
according to the plan.
The East Bank Village and Howard Park neighborhood master plans have developed in
two phases:
?Phase 1, the East Bank Village, focuses on the East Bank north of Jefferson
Boulevard to LaSalle Avenue and east to the alley between Hill Street and St. Louis
Boulevard.
?Phase 2, the Howard Park neighborhood, follows the riverfront south from Jefferson
to the Sample Street bridge.
The master plan for the Howard Park neighborhood envisions an urban neighborhood
featuring more than 80 new homes with riverfront vistas as well as improved riverwalk
amenities with a more pedestrian-friendly area. The plan proposes expanded park space,
where a cloverleaf now occupies valuable land near Northside Boulevard and Eddy
Street.
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