6C(2) Staff report on Howard Park Master Plan

Home Browse Search

memorandum Community & Economic Development 1200 County-City Building, 227 West Jefferson, South Bend, Indiana 46601-1830 ? Phone 574/235-9371 ? Fax 574/235-9021 To: Redevelopment Commission Members From: Jitin Kain, Division of Economic Development Subject: Presentation of the Howard Park Neighborhood Plan Date: August 21, 2009 The Howard Park Neighborhood of South Bend has the potential to become an exciting, dynamic urban neighborhood with its own unique identity. Located east of the historic Howard Park on the banks of the St. Joseph River, the neighborhood is poised for private sector investment and development of its infill properties. The boundaries of the Howard Park Neighborhood Plan include Jefferson Street to the North, Eddy Street to the East and the St. Joseph River to the West. After the completion of Phase I of the East Bank Master Plan, the City of South Bend decided to proceed with the planning of the Phase II area, more commonly known as the Howard Park Neighborhood. That area, located just to the south of Phase I, is decidedly more residential in character as it exists currently. However, there are several commercial and industrial users who call the Howard Park Neighborhood home, and scenic river views which characterize the vast potential the neighborhood possesses. JJR, a planning firm out of Chicago, followed a very similar format to that of the Phase I planning process, and engaged many different stakeholder groups to craft a conceptual plan that strengthens the existing pieces of the Howard Park Neighborhood. A draft of the Howard Park Master Plan was presented to the public in March 2009. Feedback was incorporated into the draft and the final version was completed in June 2009. Note that the downtown TIF boundary only includes a portion of the Howard Park Neighborhood. Economic development staff has proposed expanding the downtown TIF to include the entire Howard Park Neighborhood as defined in the master plan. Recently, the General Assembly revised the Indiana Code to require that the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) review a proposed expansion of an existing redevelopment project area or TIF Area. At the Commission meeting on August 26, 2009, staff would like to present a hard copy of the final version of the Howard Park Master Plan to Commission members. No action is necessary at this meeting. Staff is currently working on outlining the steps necessary to adopt the Master Plan given the additional review required by the IEDC and will be back to the Commission at a later time. Memo to Commission_aug 21.doc What We Do Today Makes A Difference !