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Community & Economic Development (o �, C3� gas 1200 County -City Building, 227 West Jefferson, South Bend, Indiana 46601 -1830 Phone 574/235 -9371 Fax 574/235 -9021 To: Redevelopment Commission From: Bill Schalliol, Economic Development Planner Subject: Professional Services for Commercial Study - Buxton Date: August 8, 2011 In June of 2010, the Redevelopment Commission entered into a contract with the Buxton Corporation to perform a three component retail study project. The first component updated the 2006 CommunitylD study and specifically restudied the downtown study node (Michigan- Jefferson) and a new node at LaSalle Square. The downtown node was studied at various drive time distances (2, 10, 15, 20 minute distances) and the LaSalle Square area was studied at the standard 10 minute drive time distance. The results of those studies were then applied to the Buxton Retail Match List program and compatible retailers were determined based on the profile information. At the completion of the study part of the project, all of the information was plugged into the Buxton Scout program for use and application. A copy of the Retail Site Assessment is attached to this report. The second component of the project was to complete a grocery saturation study. The purpose of the study was to identify all grocery locations within the county and then create a thematic map that showed over and under saturation of grocery store access that exists within the county. The second phase of that project was to determine, based on the map and related information, what sites might be in need of further study for grocery store access. At present, a downtown study is being completed as is a study in the northwest part of the county focused on the Huttsfield Square development site. A copy of the Grocery saturation map is included with this report. The third component of the project was the integration of all past and current data into the Buxton Scout program. The program is a web based data warehouse with a mapping feature that allows the user to gather site distance information, create location maps and warehouse retailer information that is relevant to the site matches of the study nodes. As staff has continued to use the Scout tool, we have determined that we are in need of the Scout power user upgrade to better use the program and get more "bang for the buck" from the program. The Scout power use upgrade allows for the user to complete a variety of new tasks that presently require the City to have Buxton perform such as a new specific site study, retailer What We Do Today Makes A Difference!